Biking
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, will keep large sections of its mountain closed Monday after a string of cougar encounters over the weekend, the latest in a series of incidents.
The most recent sighting happened Sunday morning on the Blackcomb side of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. A young family, out for a hike, described a tense moment when a woman found herself with a cougar above her on the trail and another below. She quickly banged her hiking poles together, making enough noise to scare the cats off before anyone got hurt. The family, carrying pepper spray, wasted no time taking the gondola down to safety, reports Global News.
No one has been attacked, but the encounters have been alarmingly close. Conservation officers say in one incident, a cougar chased a mountain biker for about 1,000 feet (300 meters) before breaking off. In another, a cougar approached a group of bikers and lingered nearby until more people arrived. The BC Conservation Officer Service has stepped up patrols, but so far, the animals have not been found.
#WBOps Bike Park Closure Update: Both Creekside and Garbo Zones remain closed to address recent cougar activity. A conservation officer will be located at the top of Fitzsimmons Express until noon today to educate guests on what to do in the event of a wildlife encounter.
— Whistler Blackcomb Operations (@wbmtnops) June 21, 2025
“We’re still up on the mountain investigating those incidents and we have a number of conservation officers in the area,” Sgt. Chris Boyle told Global News. He noted that the recent events are part of a troubling pattern, with similar cougar activity reported at Rubble Creek in Garibaldi Park and on Whistler Mountain earlier this month. “It’s a series of events similar in nature, which is quite unusual,” Boyle said.
For now, the Ascent Trail, Blackcomb bike trails, and both the Creekside and Garbanzo Zones will stay closed. Conservation officers say the cougars are not candidates for relocation since they’re already in their natural habitat. They hope the animals will move on, but if the situation escalates, more serious action could be taken.
Officials are urging anyone visiting the area to stay alert, check for updates, and report any cougar sightings. The closures will remain in place until authorities are confident the trails are safe.
