Whistler is the active sport capital of British Columbia’s mountains. While its an expensive playground for the rich, there is a lot family’s on a budget can do. The growth of the town is obvious; while the Olympics are a wonderful event, we can’t close our eyes to the loss of habitat that happens with the accompanying construction boom. Despite that growth, Whistler is perhaps the most eco-friendly town I’ve ever visited (and I live outside Portland OR). The buses are powered by fuel cells, recycling containers outnumber trash cans, and rooftop gardens are everywhere.
Perhaps the town’s greatest asset (in the summer at least) is its spectacular system of bike trails. With trails for every age and ability, one can hop on a bike and get anywhere quickly. Yesterday, while enjoying these trails, we came twice came across black bears. Near Lost Lake, a couple of bikers spotted a bear moving across the hillside above, about 50 feet away. Another family pulled up and the kids immediately started yelling and the mom panicked and started to pull the family away. Once they realized they were out of danger, they started joking about giving it a chocolate bar. (Note, this is not the bear we saw at right, I'll post pictures next week on our Facebook page).
This may have been the only family not to come across the most intensive bear education campaign I’ve ever seen. Brochures, signs, and more showed people how to act around these beautiful creatures. Every trash can was bear proofed. According to one resident, the bears are a lot more frequent near town this year, the result of a cool spring that equals less food at high altitudes. Both bears were obviously used to humans, not paying any attention to the excited humans around them. This extensive effort to live in coexistence with the bears is encouraging; Whistler is a model for being both bear-friendly and eco-friendly.
Tomorrow, we’ll be meeting with our new partners at Raincoast Conservation Foundation who are pioneers at bear conservation, as well as our friends at Maple Leaf Adventures. Stay tuned for another post soon!
Bear Watching Tips: (from the Get Bear Smart Society)
-To avoid surprising a bear, make your presence known by talking or making noise.
-Keep dogs on a leash and under control.
-If you come across a bear, remain calm and detour around it if possible, do not approach it.
-If you suddenly encounter a black bear at close range, stand your ground facing the bear. Identify yourself as human by talking in a calm voice. Back away slowly and never run.
-Carry a bear spray as a precaution.
Learn more about bears and bear watching tours at SEEtheWILD.org.
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