The Death of A Legend - RIP Scarface

Every spring, tourists, scientists, and the Yellowstone ecosystem eagerly await the emergence of the park’s largest predator, the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos). Rising from a deep winter slumber, the grizzlies quickly reestablish their place on top of the food chain. One bear in particular always drew great fanfare with his spring awakening. His name was Scarface or bear #211.

Scarface was an old bruin, a very old resident of Yellowstone. Biologists estimated his age at 25. Grizzly bears can live up to 30 years in the wild, but rarely do so because of the harsh and unforgiving environment. Scarface was a survivor, an elder statesman, and just a male bruin who knew how to get things done. He received the name Scarface because of the visible marks on his face from battling opponents and living in the wilds of Wyoming, Montana, and Yellowstone.

I remember the first time seeing Scarface. I was leading a trip, and we stopped to enjoy the views of the Antelope Valley. The Antelope Valley is at the base of Mount Washburn and can be viewed on the north side of Dunraven Pass or the road connecting Tower Junction to Canyon Village. Scarface was in the meadow below, feeding on plants, insects, small mammals, or the plethora of food choices that bears survive on. To my clients, it was just a grizzly bear, but I tried to express the historic significance of this Yellowstone icon. Over the years, Scarface was the “Where’s Waldo” of bears. Where is he going to be? Did he survive the winter? Did anyone see Scarface? WHERE IS HE?

The range and distance covered by Scarface were attributes that always impressed. Seeing the Antelope Valley, Hayden Valley, and sections of the Gallatin Mountain was a great illustration of the bear’s range. Not unique to bear #211, male grizzly bears are notorious for covering large swaths of land in search of food and mates. The grizzly bears of Yellowstone National Park are truly amazing animals.