Young Grizzly Dies After Being Hit by Car in Grand Teton
A 5-year-old male grizzly bear, GB1058, died on May 6, 2025 after being hit by a car in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
He part of the famous and cherished grizzly bear family, and was an offspring of Grizzly 399.
Sadly, Grizzly 399 was also killed by a car last October 22, 2024.
Here’s the story.
GB1058 Crawls Into Willow After Getting Hit By Car
Park rangers found GB1058 about 125 yards from the Highway 26, hidden in a patch of willows where he crawled after being struck.
Rangers think he’d been dead for several days before they found him. His ear tags and microchip helped them figure out exactly who he was.
He Was a Healthy 5-Year-Old Grizzly
Rangers who examined GB1058 found him in good shape for early spring. His body showed he’d been eating well and successfully living on his own since leaving his mother in 2022.
Park staff returned his body to a natural area within Grand Teton, allowing him to become part of the landscape he roamed in life. This practice honors the natural cycle while keeping his remains in his home territory.
GB1058 Was a Bit of a Loner
People occasionally saw GB1058 in the park after he left his mother’s side, but no confirmed sightings happened this spring. Wildlife biologists track these bears to monitor their movements and health.
Growing male bears often seek out more remote areas as they mature, avoiding the popular spots near roads. His private nature made spotting him much harder than his camera-friendly mother.
Son of World-Famous Mother Bear
GB1058 came from celebrity bear royalty as one of four cubs born to the beloved Grizzly 399 back in 2020.
His mom gained fame as the most watched and photographed bear in the Yellowstone area, often raising her cubs near roads where you could safely see them.
Many wildlife photographers followed this bear family for years, documenting their lives and movements through the park. His mother’s frequent roadside appearances made her an unofficial ambassador for bear conservation.
Second Family Member Lost To Traffic
This sad death follows just months after GB1058’s famous mother met the same fate last October. Grizzly 399 got hit by a vehicle on the same highway system south of Jackson at age 28.
During her long life, she had 18 cubs and helped grow the local bear population while teaching countless park visitors about bear behavior.
Cars Kill Several Bears Yearly
Vehicle collisions pose a major threat to bears throughout the Yellowstone area.
Nearly 50 grizzlies died after getting hit by cars between 2009 and 2023, which works out to about three bears every year.
How You Can Avoid Hitting Wildlife
You should always watch for animals while driving through the park, especially at dawn and dusk.
Park officials ask you to obey posted speed limits and keep plenty of distance between your car and others.
Remember that nighttime speeds drop to 45 mph on the main highways to give both you and animals more reaction time.
Staying alert matters just as much as slowing down since distracted driving causes many collisions.
Call This Number To Report Incidents
If you witness wildlife getting hit or harassed in the park, call the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center right away.
Their 24-hour hotline (307-739-3301) lets rangers respond quickly to emergencies.
Your reports help park managers identify dangerous spots where animals frequently cross roads.
This information guides decisions about where to add warning signs, reduced speed zones, or even wildlife crossing structures.
Here’s the full press release from the National Park Service.
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