The Lake Tahoe area in California is home to a thriving population of black bears that live throughout the basin and can be active all year long. Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe seems to be a hot spot for winter bear activity judging from a few documented cases in recent years.
The following video was taken yesterday from gondola at Heavenly and shows a mother bear and two juveniles trudging through fresh snow at the resort. Heavenly is well aware of their bear population and has specific protocols for encounter including maintaining a safe distance and notifying ski patrol.
“You are responsible for your safety and the safety of wildlife. Please help keep wildlife “wild” by not approaching or feeding animals as they may become aggressive. Our food may harm animals or even cause them death. Maintain a safe viewing distance. If an animal approaches you, it is your responsibility to move away and maintain a safe distance.” –Heavenly Ski Resort
As opportunistic omnivores, black bears will eat just about anything and that includes human food. Lake Tahoe visitors and residents are advised to secure their garbage in bear-proof containers to avoid unwanted bear encounters that could lead habituation and euthanasia for repeat offender nuisance bears.
Early this month a snowboarder came within inches of hitting a bear while riding at Heavenly:
A strikingly similar incident happened on Ridgerun Trail at Heavenly in December of 2023:
VISIT LAKE TAHOE BEAR ATTRACTANTS GUIDELINES:
- DO NOT leave trash or garbage out overnight unless it’s in a “bear-proof” container.
- DO NOT feed bears. Giving food to bears can be a death sentence. As the old adage goes, “a fed bear is a dead bear.”
- DO NOT leave pet food out on decks overnight.
- DO NOT leave food or ice chests on decks or in vehicles.
- Keep doors and windows closed and locked when you aren’t around.
- Keep BBQs clean.
- DO NOT feed wildlife, this will attract bears.
- If you see a bear in a tree, bring pets and people inside. Black bears will often climb a tree if frightened and won’t come down as long as humans or dogs are present.