The popular Grand Teton grizzly bear that was fatally hit by a car last month will be publicly mourned this weekend with a vigil in western Wyoming.

Grizzly No. 399 and her ever-growing cub were a favorite of tourists visiting Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park for nearly 30 years before her untimely death on Highway 29/28 on October 22.

The well-photographed mother bear’s memory will be honored Saturday night in Jackson, where dozens of people will brave the cold temperatures to attend a candlelight ceremony.

Even more viewers are expected to go online.

“She was a living legend, and she became this ambassador for her species and kind of a rallying cry for people who work to conserve America’s public lands,” said Jack Bayles, a wildlife tour guide who organizes the ceremony.

Among the mourners will be wildlife photographers, locals and biologists who will share their memories of the 28-year-old grizzly, who was often shot near more foot-trafficked areas of the national park.

Grizzly No. 399 was even dubbed the “Queen of the Tetons” by the PBS documentary, and more than 60,000 people have been keeping up with her adventures on Instagram.

Grizzly 399 was the oldest known breeding female in the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and was single-handedly credited with helping the grizzly population grow from just over 100 in the 1970s to about 1,000 today.

She had 18 known litters in eight litters, and some of her offspring have been spotted with litters of their own.

Grizzly 399’s ashes were spread in the Pilgrim Creek area of ​​Grand Teton National Park this week, according to park officials.

“399 will always be a part of this special place,” said Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins.

“However, there is more work to be done to ensure that her descendants and all grizzly bears continue to thrive in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. It’s up to all of us to make sure they do.”

Grizzlies are federally protected but no longer considered an endangered species — although their habitats are critically affected by the results of climate change, experts noted.

Grizzly 399 was about 40 miles south of her park habitat when she was struck and killed two weeks ago, Bayles explained.

He believes she may have wandered off, as rising temperatures have left the park’s gorse bushes barren.

Bayles and his wife will sing songs at the vigil that they used to sing when looking for 399 and her cubs.

A one-year-old male nicknamed “Rowdy” or “Spirit” was 399 when she was killed, but has not been found since.

“There is no indication that he was hit in the collision,” said Joe Szuszwalak of the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

“Given the age of the bear and the time of year, the yearling has a good chance of surviving independently and there are no current plans to capture it.”

About three grizzlies are killed in vehicle collisions in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem each year, according to data released by the park.

Grizzly No. 399 was the second killed in the area this year. The driver — who was not injured — was not speeding, and law enforcement determined the accident was accidental.