Bears Cross Busy Lake Tahoe Ski Slope as Downhill Skiers Stuggle to Avoid Mama Bear and 2 Cubs

Truckee, Calif. (February 19, 2026) - A mother black bear and her two cubs briefly interrupted skiing operations at Northstar California Resort on February 18 when they sprinted across an active ski run, as captured in multiple videos shared widely online.

The incident occurred on the resort's "Woodcutter" trail during a busy powder day, following recent heavy snowfall that left the area with approximately 48 inches of new snow over the prior week. Video footage, including one filmed from a chairlift by skier Barclay Weyhrauch, shows the three bears emerging from snow-covered vegetation and rapidly crossing the slope while skiers and snowboarders descended nearby.

Onlookers can be heard reacting with surprise, with shouts of "Stop!" "Move!" and "Get out of there!" audible as the bears passed directly in the path of descending skiers. The bears moved quickly and did not appear to interact aggressively with humans. No injuries were reported to skiers or the animals, and the encounter lasted only seconds before the bears continued into the surrounding terrain.

Northstar California Resort, located in the Lake Tahoe Basin, sits within prime black bear habitat in the Sierra Nevada mountains. California is home to an estimated 25,000–30,000 black bears, many of which inhabit the Tahoe region year-round. Unlike true hibernation seen in some bear species, black bears in this area enter a lighter state known as "winter torpor," during which they can wake periodically, move around, and forage, especially during milder winter conditions or when food sources are accessible.

Wildlife experts note that such sightings, while uncommon on active ski runs, are not unprecedented in the Sierra Nevada, where human recreation and bear territories increasingly overlap. Resort officials and local authorities emphasize safety protocols for bear encounters, including maintaining distance and securing food and trash to avoid attracting bears to developed areas.

The videos of the crossing quickly gained attention on social media and news outlets, highlighting the ongoing dynamic of wildlife and winter recreation in the region. Northstar California Resort has not issued additional statements beyond standard wildlife awareness guidelines.