Watch the Sighting:
This wholesome sighting was captured by Judy Lehmberg, a wildlife videographer in Yellowstone National Park. Judy was elated to have spotted Snow, now that she was fully grown and on her own in the world.
Snow’s Family Story
Snow’s family history starts with the famous bear Blaze who is her grandmother. Blaze lived in the central east part of Yellowstone, and gave birth to many cubs over her lifetime, including Snow’s mother, Raspberry.
In August 2015, Blaze was sadly killed by park rangers after she attacked and killed a hiker while defending her cubs. Unfortunately, this hiker wasn’t carrying bear spray, so the encounter ended tragically for both him and Blaze while her two cubs were sent to a zoo.
This same year, one of her other offspring, Raspberry gave birth to Snow (named for her distinctive white fur), along with another cub that didn’t survive. Snow became independent in 2017 after spending three winters with her mother, a longer period than the typical two winters most grizzly cubs spend before going off on their own.
Snow’s Adventures in the Summer Wilderness
Judy spotted Snow in the early months of summer 2021. She was relieved to see her looking incredibly healthy with a shiny coat and full belly. Snow was well into her adult years by now, and everyone was hoping that she would have emerged from hibernation with some cubs, especially after having spent time with a male companion that year.
With no cubs in sight, it was evident that Snow was still enjoying her solo time. Throughout the encounter she went about her usual playful behaviour, wandering through the lush green grass and crawling over fallen logs.
Now and then, she stopped for a snack or to itch herself on a dead tree — a behaviour used by bears not only to scratch an itch but also as a form of communication.
It was likely that Snow was marking her scent to convey her age, gender and overall health to the other bears in the area. In addition to information exchange, itching on trees releases saps and resins which can act as natural tick repellent.
As of 2024, Snow is now nine years old and has been observed with her own cubs, continuing the lineage of notable grizzlies in Yellowstone.
Bear Safety in the Park
Because of the tragic loss of life that occurred back in 2015 and overall safety, it is always important to stay informed about safety practices when visiting areas that overlap with bear territory.
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When hiking, be informed of bear management areas, carry bear spray and know how to use it, make noise to alert bears of your presence, and stay informed of times of the year when bears may be more aggressive (when emerging from hibernation in the spring, when raising cubs, and when preparing for hibernation in the fall).
If you encounter a bear, keep a distance of at least 100 meters, never feed or approach them for a photo, and back away slowly while speaking calmly. Following these guidelines will not only help keep you and your loved ones safe but will also protect the bears themselves.