Grand Teton grizzly ‘Blondie’ loses cubs

JACKSON (WNE) — Grizzly 793, known as “Blondie” by wildlife watchers, has lost her three cubs born this year.
That’s according to Grand Teton National Park, which confirmed rumors that had been circulating on social media for days. Justin Schwabedissen, the park’s bear management specialist, said Thursday that officials saw the 15-year-old bear and her offspring the night of June 10 in the dark near Pilgrim Flats. But the following morning, park officials started receiving reports of a grizzly fitting 793’s description that no longer had cubs.
Schwabedissen said that 45% of cubs less than a year old — known as “cubs of the year” — die, and that depredation by a male grizzly is a “common” cause of mortality.
He and Grand Teton chief of staff Jeremy Barnum suspected that a male grizzly had gotten to 793’s cubs as well, having seen one in the Pilgrim Flats area the night of June 10.
Grizzly bears are territorial, and males see grizzly cubs as potential threats or competition, Barnum said.
“As we see grizzlies in the park expanding into what was their traditional habitat, bears are going to bump up against each other,” he said. “This is their natural way [to] address their territorial competition.”
Blondie, Schwabedissen said, has had four litters of cubs. She has lost three of them so far.
 
This story was published on June 17.