Difficulty is the nurse of greatness.
~ William Cullen Bryant
Grizzly 399 – A Tall Poppy’s Life and Legacy
Aesop
Aesop is believed to have lived between 620 and 564 BCE and is renowned as a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a collection of moral tales known as Aesop’s Fables. While the details of his life remain largely uncertain, ancient sources suggest he was a slave on the island of Samos, eventually gaining his freedom through his cleverness and storytelling abilities.
His narratives typically feature anthropomorphic animals – given human traits -and convey moral lessons, making them enduringly popular across cultures and generations.
Aesop’s origins are shrouded in mystery; some sources describe him as a Thracian slave who was initially voiceless but gained the gift of speech after performing a good deed for a priestess of Isis. He is often depicted as physically unattractive, contrasting with ancient Greece’s more polished societal ideals of wisdom and beauty.
After acquiring his freedom, Aesop became an advisor to various rulers, including King Croesus of Lydia. His life story, particularly as recounted in The Aesop Romance, portrays him as an astute observer of human nature who used his fables to offer counsel and critique societal norms. His narratives often addressed themes of justice, morality, and human folly.
Aesop’s life ended tragically in Delphi, where he reportedly angered the local citizens with his sharp wit and fables. He was accused of theft and sentenced to death – “tall poppied.” After allegedly being thrown from a cliff, the people of Delphi faced severe consequences including famine and war.
Aesop’s Fables comprise a vast collection of stories passed down through oral tradition and later compiled into written form. These fables are characterized by their brevity and moral clarity (“slow and steady wins the race” from “The Tortoise and the Hare”) often concluding with a brief lesson.
The Bear and the Travelers: In this fable, two travelers encounter a bear while walking through the woods. One traveler climbs a tree to escape, while the other pretends to be dead on the ground. The bear sniffs the man lying still but eventually leaves, believing him to be dead. When the man in the tree asks what the bear said, his companion replies that the bear advised him never to trust a friend who deserts you in times of trouble. This fable teaches a lesson about loyalty and friendship during crises.
The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox: This fable tells of a lion and a bear fighting over a kid (young goat). After both are severely wounded from their battle, a fox seizes the opportunity to take the kid for himself. The moral highlights that those who do all the work may not always reap the rewards, emphasizing cooperation over conflict.
These stories illustrate Aesop’s use of animals to convey moral lessons relevant to human behavior and relationships. I have used animals similarily in a couple of my previous blogs – Jordan Peterson, Zebras, & The Tall Poppy Syndrome – Part 2 and The Lion King and the Tall Poppy Syndrome.
Grizzly Bear 399
Grizzly 399, often called the “Queen of the Tetons,” was a renowned grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, particularly within Grand Teton National Park. Born in 1996, she became one of the most famous bears due to her visibility and interactions with humans, which provided unique insights into the life of grizzly bears.
Grizzly 399 was born in Pilgrim Creek, Wyoming. In 2001, she was captured and fitted with a radio collar as part of a long-term research project by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team. This made her the 399th bear tracked in this manner. Her life was closely monitored until 2018 when direct telemetry ceased, but she remained easily observable due to her frequent proximity to park roads.
Throughout her life, Grizzly 399 gave birth to numerous cubs. She is noted for having successfully raised multiple generations, including 18 cubs, eight of whom reached adulthood. Her ability to rear cubs near human activity without significant conflict was remarkable. In 2020, she notably gave birth to four cubs at 24.
Tragically, Grizzly 399 was struck and killed by a vehicle on October 22, 2024, on Highway 26/89 near Jackson, Wyoming. She had one yearling cub when she was dead. According to the National Park Service, the yearling was not located after the accident, and there was no indication it was struck in the collision. Officials believe the yearling has a strong chance of surviving independently.
The yearling was born in 2023 when Grizzly 399 was 27, making her the oldest documented grizzly bear to reproduce in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (tall poppy). Her remains were returned to Grand Teton National Park as a tribute to her impact on conservation efforts and her connection to the area.
Grizzly 399 became a symbol of wildlife conservation and an ambassador for her species. Her presence attracted global attention, drawing wildlife enthusiasts worldwide to witness her and her offspring. She played a significant role in community efforts to mitigate human-bear conflicts by inspiring initiatives for bear-resistant infrastructure and public education on coexisting with wildlife.
Grizzly Bear 399’s legacy continues to influence conservation efforts and public awareness about the importance of protecting grizzly bears and their habitats in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This includes the ongoing threat of wildlife-vehicle collisions in national parks.
Life is difficult. Life in the animal kingdom is a struggle due to natural predators, weather extremes, and the ultimate predator – humans. We infringe on their habitat, compete for their food sources, hunt or exploit them, and even love them to death.
Grizzly 399 faced all these difficulties and rose above the rest. She was courageous, tenacious, and compassionate. She is a model for all humans and has traits rooted in TPs. We, directly or indirectly, assisted in making her great.
