Grand Teton National Park Wildlife Brigade
Grand Teton National Park is the best place to see grizzly bears and other wildlife in the contiguous United States.
Grizzly bears, Ursus arctos horriblus, occupy some 3% of their recent historic range in the continental United States. First widely encountered by the Corps of Discovery during the Lewis and Clark Expedition, grizzly bears were largely denizens of the Great Plains.
Reduced to a remnant population in the northern Rockies, grizzly bears were placed under the protection of the Endangered Species Act in 1975 after their population dwindled to around 100 (estimates vary). Grizzly bears were tagged as part of their recovery plan. Grizzly 399, was born in 1996 and tagged in 2001.
Grizzly 399 began showing up near the road in Grand Teton National Park in 2006 and immediately became a celebrity – the accidental ambassador for her species. Immortalized by legendary wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen, Grizzly 399 has personally attracted visitors from all over the world.
Seeing a need to manage human and grizzly encounters differently Grand Teton National Park Bear Management Specialist Kate Wilmot created the Wildlife Brigade in 2007. This unit, comprised of dedicated volunteers and seasonal rangers, allows Grand Teton visitors special encounters with grizzly bears and wildlife not allowed in other national parks. As park visitation has increased so, too, has the necessity for the Wildlife Brigade.
As a volunteer unit the Wildlife Brigade is often last in line for funding. They need new equipment and more brigaders for more of the year if we are to continue enjoying Grizzly 399, her brood and all of the Teton wildlife. It takes a special person to volunteer to do crowd control for free and they deserve our complete support.
To that end we are proud to introduce a line of Team 399 products with the goal of raising money for the Grand Teton National Park Wildlife Brigade. We are an independent entity not affiliated with either Grand Teton National Park or the Grand Teton National Park Foundation. We’re just ordinary folks trying to do the right thing.
Hugo 20 oz. Copper Vacuum Insulated Tumbler
This top shelf tumbler keeps drinks hot or cold for hours with its double-wall stainless steel build with an anti-spill lid. $10 from the sale of each tumbler goes to the Wildlife Brigade.
$30 SHIPPED TO THE CONTINENTAL U.S.A.
Embroidered Baseball Cap
These high quality Port Authority C850 sueded baseball caps have a CoolMax® head band and are embroidered locally. $10 from the sale of each ball cap goes to the Wildlife Brigade. One size fits all.
$35 SHIPPED TO THE CONTINENTAL U.S.A.
Unisex Short Sleeve T-Shirt
Gildan® Dry Blend® 50/50 T-shirts. The shirts are pre-shrunk and ready for active wear. $15 from the sale of each shirt goes to the Wildlife Brigade. These shirts run a tick small, so order a size up if you are in between sizes.
$35 SHIPPED TO THE CONTINENTAL U.S.A.
26 0Z. Water Bottles
These single walled stainless steel water bottles are the same ones we feature on every photography workshop. $10 from the sale of each water bottle goes to the Wildlife Brigade.
$25 SHIPPED TO THE CONTINENTAL U.S.A.
Tote Bags
These medium size and weight polypropylene tote bags are 15” wide x 13.5” tall x 4.25” deep and have a square bottom so they can sit upright. At 20” the handles are just long enough to carry the bag on your shoulder. $2 from the sale of each bag goes to the Wildlife Brigade.
$7 SHIPPED TO THE CONTINENTAL U.S.A.
5” Circular Window Stickers
Show your Team 399 spirit and support the people that help keep Grizzly 399 and her family safe. $2 from the sale of
each sticker goes to the Wildlife Brigade.
$5 SHIPPED TO THE CONTINENTAL U.S.A.
If you don’t see any merchandise you like but would like to help, please consider going to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation website and make a donation. Be sure to designate that your donation goes to the Wildlife Brigade and let them know that Team 399 sent you.
