On April 16, 2022, Tom Mengelsen and the film crew rush to shoot photos of Grizzly 399 and her cubs as they emerge from hibernation. The director, Elizabeth Leiteris moved by the experience.
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TRANSCRIPT
- It's Sue.
Hey Sue.
Where are we?
We're heading towards Jackson Lake Lodge, heading- - [Tom] Yeah, we're heading towards Christian Pond.
- Towards Christian Pond.
- [Sue] Okay.
I'm right at the turn to Jackson Lake Lodge.
- Okay.
- Can you see them?
- [Tom] Can you see 'em?
- [Sue] No, they dropped down on the back side of the ridge, so they may just stay down there and walk under the bridge, I don't know.
- [Tom] Okay, I'm gonna go ahead, I think, and go a little further.
- Tom says he's gonna go further.
I don't know if you could hear that.
- [Sue] Yeah.
- She's headed towards Willow Flats.
The best way we can go now is to the far end of Willow Flats and just wait, because it's impossible to get photos of her out in all those willows, and I don't think she's gonna come back up here.
She could, but I don't think so.
- [Elizabeth] Oh, I see her.
Yeah, she's right there.
I'm filming!
(camera clicking) - [Tom] Get inside.
- Hmm?
- [Ranger] Hey guys, you're gonna all have to get into your vehicle, okay?
- [Elizabeth] Okay.
- In your vehicle, please.
- [Elizabeth] Okay.
Can you see okay, Tom?
- [Tom] Sort of.
- Oh, I started crying the first time I saw her.
I was that person.
I mean, tearing.
But she was so close, we were so close.
I couldn't get my phone out, I couldn't do anything 'cause I was so touched.
And she's real, you know?
I thought she was fake.
- [Tom] You thought she was fake?
- I thought you guys were faking it this whole time!
Well, originally I was gonna go today, and then I was like, "Let's just stay through Saturday," you know?
Can you believe it?
- [Tom] No.
- [Elizabeth] I was so convinced I wasn't gonna see her, just very convinced of that.