That video of a skier who nearly collided with a black bear while skiing down Ridgerun Trail at Heavenly Ski Resort has gone full viral prompting a response from the Lake Tahoe resort:
“As a resort that operates on National Forest lands, wildlife sightings can occur on occasion. We deeply respect the diverse species that inhabit the area within and surrounding the resort.
In situations where these animals are noticed, we have specific protocols to prioritize the safety of our guests and the well-being of these animals. This includes maintaining distance and promptly alerting our ski patrol, mountain safety, and security teams when needed. Thankfully, interactions between our guests and bears are infrequent as these animals usually move on quickly.
In this case, it appears this bear was just looking to find some fresh tracks out on the mountain like the rest of us. You know you’re at Heavenly when even the bears are taking in those views down Ridge Run!” -Heavenly Communications Manager, Cole Zimmerman
If you’re wondering why this black bear is still active and not in hibernation you have to understand that not all black bears hibernate. Hibernation is directly proportional to how much food and resources are out on the landscape. Unfortunately in Lake Tahoe there’s a ton of human-provided food and the bears don’t always need to hibernate:
Here’s an interview with California Department of Wildlife spokesperson Peter Tira who explains why bears in Tahoe don’t always hibernate: