Regardless of how the world remembers Wyoming’s beloved Grizzly 399, some of her most devoted fans said a full-body taxidermy of her in a museum is not the way to do it.

“She dealt with multitudes throughout her life. As the years went by, it became less and less visible, probably due to the crowds. We don’t want it to be a spectacle anymore,” wildlife photographer and Jackson local Sue Cedarholm told Cowboy State Daily.

And in his opinion, and those of others, mounting 399’s skin in a taxidermy body mold and displaying it would do just that: turn the legendary bear into a mere spectacle.

Cedarholm worked for many years with renowned wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen, who probably took more photographs of Grizzly 399 than anyone.

He expressed his opposition to a taxidermy mount 399 in an essay he co-authored for the Yellowstonian publication. Mangelsen could not be reached Wednesday.

“Bears and wolves are not brainless automatons,” he wrote. “They possess emotions and intelligence, they feel loss, they suffer pain, and they have individual personalities that, as 399 demonstrated, resonate with humans. Individual bears and their stories matter. As a photographer these last 17 years, I (Mangelsen) witnessed it constantly and met countless people who told me that seeing 399 and her cubs was the highlight of their lives.”

“None of that magic translates if 399 becomes a teddy bear with fake glass eyes,” Mangelsen added.

Thinking about taxidermy as an option

What might happen to the remains of Grizzly 399 has been a topic of debate since it was hit and killed by a vehicle south of Jackson on October 22.

Cremation has emerged as an option.

It was also suggested that a taxidermy mount be made and displayed in a museum, perhaps the Draper Museum of Natural History at the Buffalo Bill Western Center in Cody.

A taxidermy mount of another famous Wyoming bear, brown bear 104, She is already on display there, along with her latest puppy.

During its lifetime, Grizzly 104 was highly visible along Highway 14/16/20 near Pahaska Tepee Resort, just outside the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

On May 14, 2001, Grizzly 104 was struck and killed on a highway bridge near Pahaska.

The Draper Museum successfully lobbied to have Grizzly 104 mounted in taxidermy, hoping that it would allow the public to appreciate grizzly bears and also serve as a reminder to drivers to slow down and be careful around wildlife.

Proponents of a similar taxidermy mount, Grizzly 399, argue that such a display would serve the same purposes.

Just say no to taxidermy

But many of the 399 fans disagree.

Wildlife photographer Chris Brunell and others said the best way to honor 399 as the world’s most famous bear would be to cremate her remains and scatter the ashes in the place she called home.

“I personally believe that Grizzly 399 deserves much more respect than being a specimen to be mounted and displayed in a natural history museum. “Her legacy requires the USFWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) to make the appropriate final decision, and turning her into a mounted trophy is not an acceptable solution,” he told Cowboy State Daily.

“I understand why people have different views on these final decisions, but with that being said, I think it is simple and her ashes should be scattered over the Pilgrim Creek watershed, which she called home for 28 years,” Brunell added.

Honor her in other media

Cedarholm said an educational display about Grizzly 399 might be a good idea, but it doesn’t have to include a taxidermy mount.

“There are endless amounts of photographs,” video clips, paintings, sculptures and other media honoring 399, he said.

Some of the best examples could be used in an exhibit, along with other materials to teach people about the life of 399 and, by extension, grizzly bears in general, Cedarholm said.

“They could have maps of all the places he was and a chart showing his family tree,” he said.

Opposition to taxidermy for Grizzly 399 is widespread, Cedarholm said.

His mother, who is in her 90s and lives in Denver, and his peers recently voted on the issue.

“All the women voted against taxidermy,” Cedarholm said.

Wildlife journalist Todd Wilkinson co-founded Yellowstonian and co-authored the essay with Mangelsen.

He also told Cowboy State Daily that there are more appropriate means than taxidermy to remember Grizzly 399.

“Being a long-time writer on wildlife and art, I think it would be more appropriate to have a striking bronze monument of her in Jackson Hole, with inspiring messages of how each of us can make contributions to protect not only the descendants of 399 and other bears. and wildlife, but the habitat they need to survive. Right now there is nothing like it. “If 399 could speak our language and tell us what he wanted with feelings we could understand, I doubt he would disagree with that,” he said.

‘It’s not about us’

399’s legacy should not focus on what people want, but what is best for the bears, Wilkinson said.

“This really shouldn’t be a controversy and anyone who puts it this way is being disingenuous. It’s not about us; it’s about 399, and in death she needs the voice of people standing up for her own dignity. Fundamentally, does “It’s about doing something honorable that preserves the integrity and mystique of who 399 was and doesn’t undermine or tarnish it. I have deep respect for talented taxidermists and praise the mission of the world-class Draper Museum of Natural History.” .

“So I hope people don’t turn this into something anti-taxidermy, anti-Draper or bold opposition to those who instinctively believe that the way to treat famous animals is to stuff them as souvenirs or try to use them. physical remains for fundraising purposes. It is not. It’s about being pro-399. The spirit of 399 is now in the ether of the wild that we all feel and struggle to translate.

“Leave her free in those spaces she called home and treat the land as sacred land, with the utmost respect,” he added.

Mark Heinz can be reached [email protected].