Grizzly 399 finally has a permanent home in Jackson Hole. On Wednesday evening, the National Museum of Wildlife Art unveiled Against All Odds, a bronze by sculptor Jocelyn Russell showing 399 with her famous 2020 quadruplets (walk around the back to find the fourth cub). Russell worked closely with wildlife photographers and filmmakers so the statue would look like 399 herself, not just any grizzly. Over 28 years, she raised 18 cubs before she was killed in a vehicle collision in 2024.
Between 600 and 700 people turned out, filling the lots and lining the roads, with plenty of Montana plates and "Queen of the Tetons" shirts in the crowd. The nonprofit Angels Without Wings led the fundraising, and its president, Robin Hutton, warned everyone to bring tissues. Photographer Thomas Mangelsen gave the likeness his approval, and Russell left the crowd with a plea to teach kids about conservation: "If they can't see it, they don't know what to save."
For those of us who call this valley home, 399 was a reminder of why we live here and what we're responsible for protecting. If you're visiting or new to town, stop by the museum and see her near the entrance. Source: Buckrail
