Whistler bears? (2023)

Are there bears in Whistler?

There are two bear species found in the Whistler region: black bears (ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (ursos arctos). Whistler is home to both black bears and grizzly bears, and it's often difficult to tell them apart.

Bears should avoid you, if they know you are in the area. Carry bear spray or another deterrent in an easily accessible yet protected area and know how to use it. Keep all dogs on leash. Dogs can provoke defensive behaviour in bears.

A family of bears is known to make its home near the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, so keep a look out from the chair lift. Sightings have also been reported this summer along local trails, like the Pemberton Valley Trail located about 20 miles northeast of Whistler.

Today, approximately 20,000 bears live in Canada — most in British Columbia, which has made substantial efforts to protect them.

In addition to other wildlife, Whistler is also cougar country. These large cats (Puma concolor) generally stay hidden in the landscape and away from humans.

Bear viewing in British Columbia's Cariboo Mountains, Chilcotin Mountain Ranges, and Great Bear Rainforest contain bears and wildlife that outnumber humans daily.

Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it's the sound of a prey animal. Slowly wave your arms above your head and tell the bear to back off. Do NOT run or make any sudden movements. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it's the sound of a prey animal.

Untrue: Most of the time bears smell clean and fresh. A high compliment would be to say someone has bear breath. People who actually smell bear breath usually say it has no odor.

To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.

Do Wolves Live in Whistler? The short answer is no. While wolves are one of the most iconic animals of British Columbia, they are very rarely sighted around Whistler. They can still be encountered on nearby Vancouver Island however, where subspecies of the wolf hunt fish off the coast in the Pacific Ocean!

What month are bears most active?

Bears are most active during early morning and late evening hours in spring and summer. Mating usually takes place in July.

Unlike bears, which are ubiquitous, moose are not a common sight in Whistler.

Bears are a common sight in Canada, home to 60% of the worlds entire bear population. The three species of bears native to Canada are the grizzlies, black and polar bears.

Grizzly bears have a large home range, averaging 1 800 km² for males and 700 km² for females across Canada.

There are almost 14000 Grizzly Bears in British Columbia and many coastal Grizzlies feed along the shorelines for shellfish as well as during salmon season. There have been a few cases of Grizzlies swimming to Vancouver Island, though it is rare.

There are roughly 50 black bears in Whistler and they live in the forests and mountains surrounding the village. During the summer bears are active at dawn and dusk as they venture out to look for food. In winter they hibernate in bear dens and wait for the winter months to pass.

Conflict between cougars and humans is extremely rare. In the past 100 years, a total of five people have been killed by cougar attacks in B.C. (in comparison, bees kill upwards of three Canadians every year). All but one of these fatal cougar attacks occurred on Vancouver Island.

We're proud to be considered by many as the "the largest gay-friendly mountain resort in North America" where diversity is celebrated as a way of life.

Make Noise

Many negative encounters occur when people surprise a bear. Make noise as you hike, especially in areas of low visibility like near streams, in berry bushes, or when the wind is against you. Singing, talking loudly, and calling out are the most effective way to warn bears of your presence.

Black bears account for 14,000 to 25,000 calls per year to the Conservation Officer Service. Bears are most active from April to November, but in milder climates, or where they are continuously finding food, bears may not go into their dens.

Where are most grizzly bears in BC?

The South Chilcotin Ranges grizzly bears' sweeping range includes, at its northern end, Chilko and Taseko Lakes and Nemaiah Valley. In its center lies Big Creek, South Chilcotin and Yalakom Provincial Parks and the Bridge River.

Here's what the experts say:

Avoid direct eye contact. Walk away slowly, if the bear is not approaching. If the bear charges, stand your ground (you cannot outrun it). Don't scream or yell.

When the bear charges you, hold your ground and stay calm. After the bear charges, slowly retreat while keeping an eye on the bear. Let the bear know that you're a human, and that you aren't a threat. Continue to speak to the bear in a calm voice and make it clear that you are a human.

If a bear approaches or touches your car, honk your horn and drive away to discourage this behavior.

Bears also dislike the strong scent of pine-based cleaners, but avoid using anything with a fresh, lemony or fruity smell. And never mix bleach and ammonia; the combination produces fumes that can be deadly to both people and bears.

Bears are usually active from dawn to dusk, but they may be seen any time of day or night. Bears in many places of high human use have become nocturnal in order to avoid people.

FWP Warden Captain Lee Anderson says, “I don't recommend shooting towards bears with firearms or even BB-guns to scare them out of your trash. It is often an ineffective hazing tool and depending on the circumstances, it can be illegal.

It is a common misconception that shotgun ammunition is a good way to chase away a bear. In reality, target or bird-hunting shot is an ineffective solution that often leads to unnecessary outcomes. Bears have relatively thin skin and shotgun ammunition can be extremely harmful and even lethal.

“Bears are naturally afraid of canids,” Hunt says. “Why? Because packs of coyotes can steal cubs.” The most common breed of bear dog is the Karelian bear dog, a black-and-white working dog that hails from the region between Finland and Russia called Karelia.

What animals live in Whistler?

Whistler's natural surroundings provide ideal homes for many different species of wildlife, including bears, cougars, deer, marmots, pika, hares, squirrels, chipmunks, otters, beavers and more. The marmot (a rock-dwelling rodent), is what gave Whistler its name.

Whistler is known for its skiing and snowboarding in the winter and mountain biking and hiking in the summer. Other winter activities that are enjoyed in Whistler are cross country skiing, skate skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, telemark skiing, and tobogganing.

Beginners can ski throughout almost the entire Whistler Blackcomb ski resort on easy slopes. The valley runs to Whistler are easy. However, beginners should take the gondola lift down to Whistler Creekside.

The worst recorded fatality incident occurred in May 1978, in which a black bear killed three teenagers fishing in Algonquin Park in Canada. The majority of attacks happened in national parks, usually near campgrounds, where the bears had become habituated to human contact and food.

North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, central and northern Missouri, and central and eastern Texas all have few to no bears (though not necessarily zero).

Alter your route or back away slowly, preferably in the direction you came. Walk, do not run, and keep your eye on the bear so you can see how it reacts. In most cases, the bear will flee. If the bear walks toward you, act boldly, yelling and throwing something at it.

Over the years Whistler has evolved a ton of things to do that don't involve skis or snowboards, meaning there's literally weeks of fun for non-skiers plus a ton of options for recovery days (even the most hardcore skiers and snowboarders take a day off here and there).

Whistler Blackcomb has some insanely gnarly and notoriously challenging marked and unmarked inbounds runs for you to check off your steep skiing bucket list. Even professional skiers and riders can get an adrenaline fix on Whistlers in-bounds terrain.

Big White and Whistler actually have the same percentage of beginner runs: eighteen. However, Whistler is a much larger ski resort, which is why Big White is better for beginner skiers. Big White also has the largest amount of ski in/out accommodation in Canada.

How can I be safe when exploring bear country in Banff National Park? Bears are solitary, wary and sensitive to human activity. They can be dangerous. The safest bet is to avoid encounters with them altogether—both for their sake and yours.

Do you need bear spray in Canada?

Anytime you're in bear country, you should have bear spray with you Whether you're trail running, biking or hiking... whether it's a short hour long hike or a multi-day backpacking hike, you should always have it readily available.

If you're planning on hiking, camping, or spending any time on the trails in Banff National Park, you'll need to carry bear spray.

Bear repellents are not considered prohibited in Canada, but the specifications state that the bear spray must bear USEPA on the label. However, bear bangers (with explosive) are currently not permitted.

Due to the expanded interpretation of the term 'weapon' in the Criminal Code, anything which is designed to cause injury, incapacitate or intimidate can be considered a weapon. Using bear spray on humans is prohibited and can lead to criminal charges.

Black bears are presently found in Mexico, 41 states of the United States, and all the provinces and territories of Canada except Prince Edward Island.

There are no large animals such as bears that live in the park. There was a deer, once recently, but it didn't last long(see below). Also, once there was a rooster who lived in the park.

When hiking in BC, it is recommended to carry bear spray. While bear attacks are extremely rare, like a seatbelt, bear spray can save your life. Always carry it in a holster where it is quickly accessible (not in your pack)—and be ready to deploy it in less than two seconds.

Whistler's natural surroundings provide ideal homes for many different species of wildlife, including bears, cougars, deer, marmots, pika, hares, squirrels, chipmunks, otters, beavers and more. The marmot (a rock-dwelling rodent), is what gave Whistler its name.

The South Chilcotin Ranges grizzly bears' sweeping range includes, at its northern end, Chilko and Taseko Lakes and Nemaiah Valley. In its center lies Big Creek, South Chilcotin and Yalakom Provincial Parks and the Bridge River.

Although there has been an increase in bear sightings, human-bear conflicts remain relatively rare, with 4 deaths and 25 serious maulings in the last three years.

Why are there no grizzly bears on Vancouver Island?

McLellan believes the mystery of why there is no viable grizzly population on Vancouver Island likely comes down to that gap of three to 4.5 kilometers separating it from the mainland, and the difference between the distance male and female brown bears are willing to swim.