Episode 03: Family, Not Fable

Bears are more than symbols of wilderness — they’re mothers, siblings, teachers. And their stories are anything but simple.

Family, Not Fable is the third chapter of The Choice — a wildlife documentary series revealing the real lives of Yellowstone’s grizzlies. In this episode, we move past the myths and into the emotional worlds of bear families. Featuring intergenerational roadside bears like Raspberry, Snow, and Jam, we explore how maternal bonds, survival strategies, and learned behavior pass down — not through folklore, but through lived experience.

In the Greater Yellowstone, some bears are more than wild icons — they’re part of a roadside dynasty. This episode dives into the intimate lives of Raspberry and her daughters, Snow and Jam. Through playful moments and quiet lessons, we reveal what most never see: the emotional world of grizzly families.

As pressures mount outside the park, family bonds are tested, and survival isn’t just about instinct. It’s about inheritance.

🎥 What You’ll See

• Rare footage of Snow and her cubs navigating both the road and the rules

• Jam foraging and exploring, still tethered to the memory of her mother

• Archival scenes of Raspberry — Yellowstone’s roadside matriarch

• Playful cub behavior and sibling dynamics rarely captured in the wild

• A sequence showing Snow's cubs confronting the transition to independence

📖 Episode Themes

• Bears as emotional, intelligent, social animals — not monsters or mascots

• The generational legacy of roadside bears like Raspberry, Snow, and Jam

• The paradox of visibility: how being seen by people both protects and endangers bear families

• Maternal instinct vs. survival instinct — and how hard those choices can be

💬 Featured Quote

“Snow was taught that the roadside was safety. Now her cubs must learn where the line really is — and how quickly it can vanish.”

🧭 Take Action

This episode reminds us that every bear has a backstory.
Please help us protect grizzly families by advocating for policies that treat them not as threats, but as beings with lives, relationships, and rights to roam.

👉 Learn how you can help → The Wildline