Mountain Spy :: September 2021

Mountain resorts are amazing places to go and enjoy nature. We invite people to come experience the outdoors (with amenities) in all its glory, and that glory typically includes wildlife. It is thrilling to encounter an animal in its natural habitat, but some animals we can meet—like bears—require extra caution. 

Etiquette exists to help people safely navigate animal encounters—bear encounters specifically—to prevent bad things from happening. Many ski areas understand this. Their websites often include tips for safe wildlife viewing and almost always offer recommendations for general hiking safety. For this call, staffers were a bit less reliable than the websites. Responses ranged from happy to help to horrified, and rarely married both safety and strategy. Nature newbies, rightfully excited to experience all of the outdoors, deserve our guidance and our enthusiasm.