A permanent bronze monument honoring the life of Grizzly 399 will be unveiled on September 9 at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming. The sculpture, titled Against All Odds, depicts the famous bear alongside her four cubs born in 2020.
A Legacy in Bronze
The dedication ceremony takes place at 5 p.m. near the museum entrance, signaling the start of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. Organizers chose the date 9/9 specifically to honor the iconic sow. The life-size bronze installation commemorates a bear that became an international symbol of the wild throughout her two decades in the Grand Teton National Park area.
Wildlife sculptor Jocelyn Russell led the creation of the piece, with artists Kristen Douglas-Seitz and Colleen Moore providing additional work. Adonis Bronze Foundry in Utah cast the final sculpture. The piece stands at roughly one-and-a-half times the size of the living bears, capturing the specific image of 399 and her quadruplets that resonated with observers across the globe.
The Life of an Icon
Grizzly 399 died on October 22, 2024, following a vehicle collision in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson. She left behind a profound legacy as one of the most photographed and tracked grizzly bears in history. During her long life, she produced 18 cubs, often frequenting roadside areas in the park, which brought her into close proximity with millions of tourists and researchers.
Her visibility provided a unique window into the life of a grizzly bear. She navigated a complex landscape where human infrastructure often overlaps with essential wildlife habitat. The sculpture serves as a material reminder of her influence on public awareness regarding large carnivores in the West.
Future Preservation and Impact
The National Museum of Wildlife Art received the statue as a donation from The Grizzly 399 Legacy of Love Project, facilitated by the nonprofit group Angels Without Wings. The museum intends for the installation to function as a space for reflection on the intersection of human activity and natural environments.
Following the unveiling, photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen will lead a discussion on the significance of 399. Later that evening, Mangelsen and sculptor Jocelyn Russell will present details on the creative process behind the bronze work. The museum hopes the site will prompt visitors to consider the long-term needs of wildlife and the importance of conservation efforts in the Teton region. This permanent installation ensures that the narrative surrounding 399 persists, framing the challenges of coexisting with apex predators in an increasingly populated West.