Whistler's Remarkable Black Bear Community
The mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb are home to a thriving community of 50+ adult black bears and cubs that have uniquely adapted to life within the Whistler Blackcomb ski area habitats. These aren’t just any bears passing through; they’re residents who feed, mate, and hibernate right here on the slopes you ski in winter.
This remarkable population represents the only group of black bears in British Columbia that researchers have continuously studied for over two decades, making your viewing experience both scientifically significant and deeply authentic.
Throughout the summer months, you’ll find mothers with cubs foraging in the alpine meadows, adolescent bears exploring new territories, and mature males establishing their ranges across the mountain landscape. Each bear has its own personality and habits, from the cautious mothers teaching their cubs which berries ripen first to the confident males who know exactly where the best feeding spots emerge as snow melts.
This intimate knowledge, gathered through years of observation, transforms your tour from simple wildlife viewing into a window into the complex social world of mountain bears.
The conservation success story here is worth celebrating. Through careful management and respect for bear habitats, Whistler has created a model for wildlife and recreation coexistence that other mountain communities study and admire.
Your participation in these tours directly supports ongoing research and conservation efforts, ensuring future generations of both bears and visitors can continue to share these magnificent mountains.
