Big Bear Lake is a medium sized lake found about 100 miles east of Los Angeles. The lake and the adjacent Big Bear City have always been a special place for people to get away and enjoy some of the natural wonders of the world. Besides the scenic beauty here, you can also enjoy the amazing beauty of the numerous species of Big Bear wildlife that roam throughout the area.
The Big Bear Wildlife
The area was named for the massive grizzly bears that roamed here in the 1800s. The Native Americans who lived here for thousands of years saw these grizzlies as their ancestors and lived in peace with them. These days, you cannot find grizzly bears here, but there is still plenty of wildlife that captivates visitors that have had the privilege to witness their beauty.
The bird wildlife is abundant and beautiful. It is for this reason that Big Bear has been attracting bird watchers from all over the world for decades. You can even see the amazing bald eagle from November to April. Use binoculars and focus on the tops of dead trees to see these animals. Apart from the birds, visitors frequently see chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, coyotes, and even black bears.
Some of the lesser seen and more majestic animals are the bobcat and the mountain lion. Bobcats are beautiful creatures typically weighing around 20 pounds, looking like a very large house cat. The mountain lion, on the other hand, can weigh around 160 pounds and reach astonishing lengths of 8 feet. They are truly an amazing sight to behold. The gray fox is another of the animals that is seldom seen, as it hunts at night.
How to Get Out and Experience It
Wildlife is quite a common sight throughout the Big Bear area. This is especially true if you know where to look. Walking around the banks of the lake is a great way to encounter beavers and a wide variety of other animals drinking water. The north shore and the wilderness beyond it are your best bet for finding animals, as it is the less populated side of the lake. Trek through these areas with snowshoes in the winter to enjoy a one of a kind experience. When looking for these animals, it is important to be patient, as they can be rare sights.
Stopping by the Discovery Center on the north shore of the lake is a great way to find out more about how you can best go about finding Big Bear wildlife. You can rest assured that you are safe in your endeavors to find these animals, as the bigger specimens, such as the cougars, mountain lions, and black bears are shy and will avoid confrontations with humans.
Big Bear is one of the best places in the Southwestern United States for watching wildlife. Looking for wildlife in a beautiful place like Big Bear can be a very a beautiful and humbling experience. Make Big Bear your next vacation destination for some of the most awe-inspiring natural beauty you have ever seen! Contact us today to book your very own cabin in Big Bear!
