Black bear darting across Heavenly Ski Resort run gaining international attention

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A skier on the Ridge Run at Heavenly Ski Resort on Sunday caught more than just the epic scenic views the run is famous for. TikTok user @Tao7570 caught the moment a bear darted across the run in between skiers and boarders on his phone Sunday, December 10, 2023.

It isn't uncommon for wildlife, bears included, to be seen around the ski resort and the rest of Lake Tahoe. The black bear population in the Lake Tahoe Basin numbers in the hundreds. Bears were seen earlier in the day crossing under the Canyon chairlift.

"As a resort that operates on National Forest lands, wildlife sightings can occur on occasion," said Cole Zimmerman, Heavenly communications manager. "We deeply respect the diverse species that inhabit the area within and surrounding the resort. In situations where these animals are noticed, we have specific protocols to prioritize the safety of our guests and the well-being of these animals. This includes maintaining distance and promptly alerting our ski patrol, mountain safety, and security teams when needed. Thankfully, interactions between our guests and bears are infrequent as these animals usually move on quickly. In this case, it appears this bear was just looking to find some fresh tracks out on the mountain like the rest of us. You know you’re at Heavenly when even the bears are taking in those views down Ridge Run!” Zimmerman believes the video is from this past weekend. There have been similar videos in the past that were similar with a bear on ski runs, but his one depicts a much closer call that others.