Tahoe Skiers Encounter Bear On The Slopes

Ella Boyd
·2 min read
11

There is plenty of wildlife around Tahoe: beavers, porcupines, coyotes, squirrels, and, of course... black bears!

Just a few days ago, Dion Lim, Anchor/Reporter for KGO-TV San Francisco, posted a clip of a snowboarder encountering a bear on Friday afternoon at Heavenly.

"Bear on the slopes in Tahoe!"

"A snowboarder named Danielle told me she came across this bear Friday afternoon while on vacation with family at Heavenly."

Before you think, "golly, that's wild! I've never seen a bear on the slopes!" Perhaps you've never skied South Lake Tahoe.

Matt Lorelli reported on a similar story of a bear sprinting across the Ridgerun Trail at Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe for POWDER about a month earlier.

Related: Bear Seen Sprinting At Skiers And Snowboarders On Crowded Slopes

Matt found that "South Lake Tahoe, California is known for its large bear population. With that said, it's fairly unusual to see one on the slopes."

He also made the important distinction between brown bears and black bears. "California, and especially the area surrounding Lake Tahoe, is home to large population of Black Bears that sport a 'Cinnamon' color. These bears are often confused for grizzlies or 'brown bears'."

In this latest interaction, the woman "stayed away but saw a skier try and approach the bear. The bear then ran trying to get away. A bear expert told me the creatures get overwhelmed when humans get too close."

A snowboarder behaving better than a skier? What is the world coming to.

No matter who's near the bear next time, Dion warns everyone "just don’t approach the wildlife, people!"

Related: Tahoe Filmmaker Scott Gaffney Went Skiing With 'Keefe' From 'The Righteous Gemstones'

Don't miss another headline from POWDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing.

We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging ski-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on POWDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality ski videos.