JACKSON, Wyo. — The driver who struck and killed a famous grizzly bear south of Grand Teton National Park earlier this week was not speeding and the bear’s death was an accident, law enforcement officers said Friday.
The death of grizzly No. 399 on Tuesday night in the Snake River Canyon south of Jackson saddened tourists, wildlife biologists and amateur and professional photographers who for years studied and captured images of the bear and her many cubs and followed her comings and goings on social media sites.
“The bear stepped right out into the road,” Lincoln County Sheriff’s Patrol Lt. John Stetzenbach told the Jackson Hole News & Guide on Friday. The driver “was unable to brake in time to avoid the bear, and the collision occurred.”
He said the collision “truly was an accident” and that the driver was not speeding or distracted and was not cited. The Subaru that hit the bear had to be towed from the scene, Stetzenbach said.
He declined to identify the driver, noting some online comments blamed the driver for the bear’s death.
At 28 years old, No. 399 was the oldest known reproducing female grizzly in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Each spring, wildlife enthusiasts eagerly awaited her emergence from her den to see how many cubs she had birthed over the winter — then quickly shared the news online. The bear had 18 known cubs in eight litters over the years, including a litter of four in 2020. She stood around 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall and weighed about 400 pounds (180 kilograms).
Named for the identity tag attached to her ear by researchers, the grizzly was often seen near roads in Grand Teton, drawing crowds and creating traffic jams.
Grand Teton bear biologist Justin Schwabedissen said Thursday that he believes her yearling cub, which was apparently not struck, will survive on its own.
Photo Credit: Will Lawton
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — “Sulphur Creek, Wyoming,” writes photographer Will Lawton. “End of day ice fishing. Great day to be alive.”
It sure is, Will. It sure is.
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Ashton Jeanty became Boise State’s first 2,000-yard rusher by collecting 169 yards on 19 carries as the 12th-ranked Broncos beat Wyoming 17-13 on Saturday night in Laramie, Wyo.
Jeanty, who also found the end zone once on the ground, entered the contest as the nation’s leading rusher with 1,893 yards. His big performance on Saturday helped Boise State (10-1, 7-0 Mountain West Conference) clinch a berth in the conference championship game.
The Broncos got 53 rushing yards from Jeanty during their penultimate drive of the game, which ended with Jambres Dubar rumbling across the goal line from 2 yards out for a 17-13 lead with 5:02 to go.
Wyoming (2-9, 2-5) turned the ball over on downs on its ensuing possession. It had gone up 13-10 earlier in the fourth quarter when John Hoyland made good on a 35-yard field goal with 9:03 remaining.
Maddux Madsen completed 14 of 26 passes for 168 yards for Boise State. Cameron Camper had five catches for 74 yards, while Dubar rushed for 22 yards and the touchdown on five touches.
Kaden Anderson started under center for the Cowboys, but he did not play in the second half because of an apparent injury. He had 116 yards and a TD on 9-of-14 passing prior to exiting. Evan Svoboda took over and hit on 6 of 13 passes for 87 yards.
Wyoming’s Justin Stevenson had four catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, and Jaylen Sargent finished with four receptions for 86 yards. Boise State took a 7-3 lead on a 61-yard Jeanty touchdown run with 3:40 to go in the first quarter. Jeanty cut back and sprinted down the wide side of the field for the score.
Early in the second quarter, Anderson launched a pass from the Cowboys’ logo at midfield and found a leaping Sargent for a 41-yard completion. Two plays later, Stevenson grabbed a 5-yard TD for a 10-7 lead with 9:36 to go.
As time ran out in the first half, Jonah Dalmas’ 24-yard field goal tied the game at 10.
–Field Level Media
MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wyoming men’s cross country program finished 30th as a team with 707 points at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday.
The Cowboys were led by junior Jacob White throughout the whole race. White finished 119th with a time of 30:00.4. Following a theme of Cowboys finishing together throughout the season, senior Ryker Holtzen finished right by White in 120th, improving his placement at each 1K interval since the 7K mark, with a time of 30:01.3.
To close out his collegiate cross country career, senior Gus McIntyre came in 184th crossing the line at 30:34.9. In his first year in Wyoming, senior Dylan van der Hock finished with a time of 30:58.8 for 211th after improving his standing by nine places in the last kilometer. To close out the scoring five, senior Mason Norman grabbed 214th with a time of 31:00.8.
Two more Cowboys, and Wyoming natives, started the 10K in seniors Trevor Stephen and Asefa Wetzel. Stephen finished in a time of 31:24.4 for 233rd overall. Wetzel remained in 251st place at the 5K and 6K mark before having to step out.
As a team, the Cowboys averaged a 30:31.2 10K with individual finishes of 119-120-184-211-214 and point totals of 99-100-153-176-179.
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