Industry News
A young black bear has been the talk of the week at Palisades Tahoe, California, and has even led to lift closures on the mountain. The bear was first spotted on Monday near the summit of Granite Chief. It has been observed by passing skiers and riders on the mountain and has also been seen scavenging through garbage bins near resort buildings, which has prompted major concerns for guest safety at the resort. Patrick Lacey, a spokesperson for Palisades Tahoe, reported that the mountain manager, Jimmy King, decided to close both Emigrant and Granite Chief last Monday, April 8, to ensure the safety of skiers and snowboarders. The bear noticeably has an ear tag and a GPS collar, indicating that it was captured and released into the wild after being found in a more urbanized area of Lake Tahoe.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) spokesperson Peter Tira explained that the bear is believed to be between one and two years old and is not considered a problem bear despite its history of being trapped and relocated. A “problem bear” typically refers to a bear that has become habituated to human presence or dependent on human food sources, often leading to problematic behaviors such as breaking into homes, raiding garbage, or displaying aggression. When a bear is identified as a problem, wildlife management strategies such as relocation, aversive conditioning, or, as a last resort, euthanasia are employed to manage the situation and reduce risks to human safety. It was moved to a remote part of El Dorado County but has returned, likely close to where it was born. Biologists from the CDFW were dispatched to the site on Thursday, April 11, to “haze” the bear to encourage it to move away from populated areas without harming it.
Once bears wake up in the spring from hibernation, they become very active and start looking for food. This young bear’s presence at Palisades Tahoe has shown how hard it is to keep wildlife from wandering into popular recreation places. The resort continues to prioritize the safety of both its guests and the local wildlife, reminding everyone to be vigilant and to give the bear space.
The bear has gained some notoriety on the internet after going viral with a recent post by Palisades Tahoe on Instagram, which got over 17,000 likes. The resort has actively engaged with its audience on social media by sharing images of the bear and discussing its movements. They even playfully suggested naming the animal and have received dozens of ideas from followers in the comments. Our favorite comment was from John Wampler, who asked, “Did he at least pay for a lift ticket?!” This fun approach by Palisades Tahoes aims at fostering a better understanding and appreciation of the local wildlife while still keeping things light while also acknowledging the dangers and concerns the situation raises.
