Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Nature Documentary “Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons”
Jun 18th 2025
“Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons” Meets Television’s Highest Honor—46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy® Awards
A note from Tom: Although the PBS Nature film Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons did not receive the Emmy in the News and Documentary Awards Ceremony in New York City June 28th, we are extremely honored and proud to have the film nominated. I am grateful for all those who contributed to the production and telling the story of the beloved Grizzly 399. The talent, creativity and passion to tell 399’s complex story was obviously a labor of love for all of us. I want to personally thank the producers, videographers, editors, assistants, Lucky 8 Productions and PBS for their vision and belief in 399 and her legacy.
PBS Nature | Season 42, Episode 15 | Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons is a cinematic tribute to the most famous grizzly bear in the world. Known by her research number, Grizzly 399 became a symbol of resilience, motherhood, and the fragile balance between wildlife and human encroachment. The film follows her as she raises four cubs—an extraordinary feat for a bear of her age—while navigating threats from climate change, habitat loss, and shifting wildlife policies.
The documentary is available to stream on PBS.org and the free PBS App.
The 46th News & Documentary
EMMY Nominations Gallery
Attenborough and the Jurassic Sea Monster, Nature PBS
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story, National Geographic
Grizzly 399: Queen of the Tetons, Nature PBS
Our Living World, Netflix
Patrick and the Whale, Nature PBS
Paul Nicklen & Cristina Mittermeier: Win or Die Photographer, National Geographic
Silverback, Nature PBS
Documentary Night Ceremony
Thursday, June 26th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. EDT
The 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy® Awards will be presented live at the Palladium Times Square in New York City, and will be streamed live on the web at watch.theemmys.tv and via The Emmys® apps for iOS, tvOS, Android, FireTV, and Roku (full list at apps.theemmys.tv).
“Grizzly 399 has been one of the greatest teachers of my life. For over two decades, I’ve watched her raise generations of cubs with remarkable strength, intelligence, and grace. Being part of Queen of the Tetons gave me the opportunity to reflect on that journey, not just as a photographer, but as someone deeply connected to the wild places she calls home. To see her story now honored with an Emmy nomination is incredibly moving—and I hope it inspires others to care, protect, and speak out for wildlife everywhere.”
The Guardian - Grizzly 399 | Limited Edition print | Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
“Filming Queen of the Tetons was more than just a project—it was a deeply personal journey into the heart of wildness. I’ve had the honor of working alongside Tom Mangelsen for over 20 years, chronicling Grizzly 399’s story season after season. To help tell her story through this film, and now see it recognized with an Emmy nomination, is both humbling and incredibly meaningful. Grizzly 399 represents the power and fragility of the natural world, and it’s been a privilege to help share her legacy with the world.”
Grizzly 399’s Legacy
Born: Winter 1996, Pilgrim Creek, Wyoming
Died: October 22, 2024, after being struck by a vehicle
Offspring: 18 cubs over her lifetime. Only eight of 399’s cubs have reached adulthood.
Surviving Cub: One yearling, nicknamed “Spirit,” fate unknown
Themes & Impact
Conservation vs. Coexistence: The film explores the tension between wildlife protection and human development in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Climate Change: Warmer winters and shrinking food sources threaten grizzly survival.
Policy & Protection: The documentary highlights the controversial push to delist grizzlies from the Endangered Species Act.
Broadcast & Reach
Premiere: May 8, 2024, on PBS Nature
Streaming: PBS App, KPBS Passport
Audience: Millions across the U.S. and internationally
Press Coverage: Featured in PBS, KPBS, Nature Conservancy, and Wyoming Public Media
Why It Matters
This nomination is more than an accolade; it’s a recognition of the power of conservation storytelling. Through Mangelsen’s lens, audiences witness not just the life of one remarkable bear, but the broader challenges wildlife face in a changing world: habitat loss, traffic corridors, and increased human-wildlife interaction.
Grizzly 399’s story reminds us of what is at stake—and what we stand to protect.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Nature
PBS [Lucky 8 TV, The WNET Group]
Producer Elizabeth Leiter
Cinematographer Daniel Carter
Executive Producer Gregory Henry, Isaac Holub, Fred Kaufman, George Kralovansky, Kimberly Woodard
Series Producer Bill Murphy
Supervising Producer Jayne Jun
Senior Producer Laura Metzger Lynch
Associate Producer James F Burke
Editor Jim Isler, Colin Nusbaum
Series Editor Janet Hess
Wildlife Footage & Photography Provided by
Mangelsen—Images of Nature Gallery
Photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen
A Life Behind the Lens: Renowned wildlife photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen is not just a contributor—he is the emotional heart of this documentary. Mangelsen has followed Grizzly 399 since 2006, capturing her life in over a million photographs. His deep connection with the bear, forged over nearly two decades, provides the film with rare archival footage and a personal narrative that elevates it beyond traditional wildlife storytelling.
“She changed my life,” Mangelsen says. “She made me a better conservationist, a better photographer, and a better human being.”
His images of 399 have appeared in National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, and Smithsonian, and his advocacy has helped shape public opinion on grizzly conservation.
Cinematographers Thomas D. Mangelsen, Sue Cedarholm, Tiffany Talbott
Special Thanks Dr. Jane Goodall, Todd Wilkinson