Vigil set for Grizzly No. 399, the beloved Grand Teton bear who was killed by a vehicle

During her nearly three decades roaming the snowy wilderness of the Teton Range, Grizzly No. 399 became a beloved mama bear with millions of parkgoers following her yearly adventures and her ever-growing family tree.

Nature lovers are mourning the matriarch of the world-famous bear family after she was fatally struck by a vehicle Oct. 22 on a highway in western Wyoming. On Saturday night in the picturesque ski town of Jackson, dozens are expected to brave frigid weather to attend a candlelight vigil, and hundreds more will watch online.

Wildlife photographers, biologists and community members will come together to share fond memories of the 28-year-old grizzly known for frequenting tourist-heavy spots and roadsides in Grand Teton National Park.

A PBS documentary crowned her “Queen of the Tetons" and an Instagram account dedicated to her has amassed more than 60,000 followers.

“She was a living legend, and she became this ambassador for her species and a kind of rallying symbol for people working to conserve American public lands,” said Jack Bayles, a wildlife tour guide who is organizing the ceremony in Jackson's town square.

Named for the tag affixed by researchers to her ear, No. 399 was the oldest-known reproducing female grizzly in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. She has been credited for helping the region’s grizzly population rebound from just over 100 in the 1970s to around 1,000 today.

She had 18 known cubs in eight litters over the years, and some have been spotted with cubs of their own.

Her ashes were spread this week in the Pilgrim Creek area of Grand Teton National Park, where she spent much of her life, park officials said.

“399 will always be part of this special place,” Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins said in a statement. “However, there is still work to do to ensure her descendants and all grizzly bears continue to thrive in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. It’s up to all of us to make sure they do.”

Grizzlies have teetered on and off the endangered species list. They remain federally protected, but some state officials in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho have sought to remove federal protections as their population has replenished. The states want to regain management of grizzlies and allow limited hunting.

Conservationists argue the species still requires protection as food scarcity caused by climate change has driven grizzlies further from their habitats in search of food.

On his tours of the Tetons, Bayles said he often draws attention to barren huckleberry bushes affected by rising temperatures, which he said might help explain why No. 399 was about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of her habitat in the park when she was fatally struck. Grizzlies need to eat nearly nonstop in the fall to store enough fat to sustain their winter hibernation.

At the vigil Saturday, the tour guide said he plans to sing a few songs that he and his wife, Gina, used to play while they were out looking for her and her cubs.

A male yearling cub, known informally as “Rowdy” or “Spirit,” was with No. 399 when she was killed and has not been located in the nearly two weeks since.

“There is no indication it was struck in the collision,” Joe Szuszwalak of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said. “Given the bear’s age and the time of year, the yearling has a strong chance of surviving independently, and there are no current plans to capture it.”

On average, about three grizzlies are killed in vehicle collisions in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem each year, according to data collected by researchers and released by the park. No. 399 was the second grizzly killed in the region by a vehicle this year.

Law enforcement officers have declared the bear's death an accident. The driver was not speeding and was not hurt.

In this undated photo provided by Grand Teton National Park a grizzly bear known as No. 399 walks along side a cub. (C. Adams/Grand Teton National Park via AP)

This photo provided by Grand Teton National Park shows Grizzly bear No. 399 and her cub in 2008. (G. Pollock/National Park Service via AP)

In this undated photo provided by Grand Teton National Park a grizzly bear known as No. 399 walks along side a cub. (C. Adams/Grand Teton National Park via AP)

In this undated photo provided by Grand Teton National Park a grizzly bear known as No. 399 stands along side a cub. (C. Adams/Grand Teton National Park via AP)

FILE - Grizzly bear No. 399 and her four cubs cross a road as Cindy Campbell stops traffic in Jackson Hole, Wyo., on Nov. 17, 2020. (Ryan Dorgan/Jackson Hole News & Guide via AP, File)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — When Willie Green learned Friday that starting guard CJ McCollum and top defender Herb Jones would be joining point guard Dejounte Murray on the injury list for multiple weeks, the New Orleans Pelicans coach tried to look on the bright side.

“We’re grateful that it’s not something that’s going to keep those guys out the rest of the year,” Green said before New Orleans hosted the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. "It’s something that they can recover from.

“At the same time, it’s going to ask a lot of the rest of the group,” Green added. "You’ve got to cut down on mistakes ... grind and kind of weather the storm.”

McCollum, who has averaged 18.8 points in four games this season, has been diagnosed with a right adductor strain that is expected to sideline him about two to three weeks. Jones has a right shoulder strain and small low-grade partial thickness tear in his rotator cuff. The Pelicans say he could be out from two weeks to a month.

Both were hurt during the Pelicans' loss at Golden State on Tuesday night.

Murray, the Pelicans' top offseason acquisition, broke his hand late in New Orleans' regular season-opening victory over Chicago. Murray had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the lone game he's played for New Orleans. He had surgery last week and is expected to miss an additional three to five weeks

Meanwhile, New Orleans began the season without wing Trey Murphy III, who is recovering from a right hamstring strain that is expected to keep him out one more week.

The injuries will mean much more playing time for shooting guard Jordan Hawkins, a 2023 first-round draft choice out of Connecticut, and point guard Jose Alvarado, and fourth-year pro out of Georgia Tech. Both moved into the starting lineup on Wednesday night at Golden State, when New Orleans lost its third straight game.

The team also gave 7-foot rookie Yves Missi — a first-round draft pick out of Baylor — his first career start at center on Friday.

All three responded productively in a 125-118 victory over Indiana.

Hawkins scored 23 points. Alvarado added 12 points, seven assists and two steals. Missi grabbed 10 rebounds, blocked a shot and had four points, highlighted by his thunderous dunk over Indiana's Myles Turner.

“They were more active than usual, vocally and just energy-wise,” said Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, who led the club with 34 points and 10 assists. “When players do stuff like that, no matter which calibre player you're talking about, it's infectious. Like, people want to be a part of that. People feed off of that and it leads to those runs, lobs, blocks and just wanting to make the play.”

Williamson and wing Brandon Ingram represent what remains — for now — of New Orleans' usual starting lineup. But the Pelicans hope that with their leadership, they can stay competitive as several usual reserves adjust to more prominent roles.

“With this group, we just continue to stay together and go after it,” Green said. “Not having the main guys on the floor and having to adjust to guys that aren’t necessarily in the rotation, that’s the issue for us.

“We saw the first game what we would look like," Green added, referring to Murray's addition to this season's main lineup. "Without him, we were kind of going back to what we were doing last season; it wasn’t how we were playing all camp, so we’ve got to make some adjustments.”

Although Green conceded that it's easy to feel unlucky at times like these, he stressed that "life is too good and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to lead.”

“Things happen, adversity strikes and how we handle that, it prepares us for life," Green said. "That’s how I look at it.”

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Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons, left, dives for the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, right, drives to the hoop against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (2) reacts after making a 3-point basket in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in New Orleans, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. The Pelicans won 123-111. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, left, and injured guard CJ McCollum react on the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)