Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming, for Thursday, October 24th. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - brought to you by 4 Wyoming Pack. 4 Wyoming Pack says, "This November, Wyoming will vote to allow residential homes to be taxed at a lower, fairer rate, even the playing field, and give families a much-needed break." 4 Wyoming Pack wants you to Vote Yes on Amendment A.

The long reign of the "Queen of the Tetons" came to an end late Tuesday, when Grizzly 399 was struck and killed by a vehicle south of Jackson – leaving her fanbase shocked and heartbroken.

Outdoors reporter Mark Heinz, who has followed and reported on the exploits of the world's most famous bear, spoke to several wildlife photographers who were devastated by the news.

"The people I've talked to are folks that have been following, you know, 399, for years, in some cases, decades… the folks that were out there taking photos and video of her and, you know, broadcasting that to the world and making her the celebrity that she was. I mean, arguably Wyoming's most famous resident. I mean, we've got a lot of famous folks from Wyoming, but I don't know if even any of the people could hold a hold a candle to the fame of grizzly 399."

Lincoln County Sheriff Captain Brian Andrews said the collision happened at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night, and was ruled an accident with no tickets issued. He said the driver of the Subaru that hit the bear didn't see 399 until it was too late.

Read the full story HERE.

The death of grizzly 399 has also hit hard the wildlife officials who have for years observed and looked out for her and other animals in Grand Teton National Park.

Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports that Game and Fish biologists, as well as the Superintendent of Grand Teton National Park, feel the famous bear's loss.

"The bear biologist with Grand Teton Park, who's been there since 2011 said that, you know, they were pretty devastated by it that, but they also are know that they said that the bear that 399 is leaving a real legacy of just kind of awareness and of people just seeing the wildlife, because she was so, so upfront about bringing her cubs down around roads and within view of people. And ultimately, you know, a lot of people are going to say that's what led to her demise too."

Read the full story HERE.

Grizzly 399 wowed the world in 2020 during the pandemic by emerging from her den with four cubs. The bear that would be her final cub was born in spring of 2023. The cub wasn't found with 399 at the scene of the crash in Lincoln County, but Heinz spoke with wildlife officials, who say the one-and-a-half-year-old cub should be able to make it on its own.

"Grizzly cubs normally separate from their mothers during that second summer. So for this cub, would be next the summer of 2025 but according to at least what Game and Fish is telling me, they're cautiously optimistic that, given the Cubs size, relative health, looking pretty darn fat, that it has as good a chance as it can possibly have of surviving on its own."

Recent sightings indicate that the cub is in great health.

Read the full story HERE.

A 55-year-old Douglas woman was sentenced Wednesday to between 14 and 23 years in prison for abusing her elderly mother and fatally