How many bears in whistler

The mountains dominate the landscape, while rainforests and lakes are found throughout the valley. This wilderness makes Whistler a natural place for skiing and biking, but its also home for lots of wildlife. Eagles, beavers, marmots and salmon all call this part of the world home. But our largest neighbours, bears, are by far our most popular. This guide will teach you all you need to know about bears in Whistler.

The two most common types of bears in Canada are the grizzly bear and black bear. Grizzly bears are the larger of the two and are known to be more aggressive. Thankfully, these bears make their homes in the remote parts and far north of Canada which means there are none in Whistler. Instead, we have lots of black bears here! Black bears are smaller than grizzlies, they can have black, brown or even white fur. 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. During this hibernation, they actually wake up every few days to eat their stored food and raise their body temperature. When it comes to bear safety here in Whistler, we take things very seriously. A fact which many visitors only find out about after their first encounter.

And while living in the same neck of the woods as a large carnivore might put you on edge, we like to think under most circumstances, the Whistler community and the bear community get along quite well together. Our friendly mascot dog, Bandito, has even had his fair share of encounters, going to far as to jump on top of the bear in his excitement.

Because we know that most of you have never seen a bear, let alone met one in its natural habitat, we wanted to set up for success if you are lucky enough to see one in the wilds of Whistler. When it comes to bears, following a few rules and keeping some common-sense in mind can go a long way. People flock to Whistler during all seasons to get the best the B. Given their lengthy hibernation, they are very motivated by food.

Luckily, bears are relatively predictable and habitual creatures, so the key to staying safe is following along with some fundamental guidelines to bear encounters. Contrary to popular belief, bears are skittish creatures. Clear communication is a huge deal when it comes to bear-human interaction. Often miscommunication can result in an unpleasant situation.

The first thing you have to do when you see a bear is to stay calm. Talk to him in a calm voice, heck, introduce yourself if you want while you slowly and calmly back away. A big loud and calm voice is essential. Remember this is real life, you are not simply bear watching in Whistler.

Did you get him and a food source? This is a big deal, too. Mother bears are known to be unusually aggressive when it comes to protecting their babies.

The last thing you want to do is pose a potential threat to her cubs. Back up slowly, away from his escape route, or her cubs. A Whistler grizzly tends to want to avoid an aggressive situation as much as you do. Make big loud noises while hiking, even if you have to sing. We just mean loud. Join our Newsletter. Share on Facebook. So what should residents do to live peacefully alongside these four-legged creatures?

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