Watch: Black bear 'mauls' snowman in Whistler Village

Another busy holiday season has come to an end in Whistler, but not everyone in town was feeling the festive spirit this year.  

This adorable footage captured and submitted to Pique by a reader last month shows one black bear that, whether motivated by curiosity or maybe frustration with the cold, white blanket currently covering the resort, decided to get up close and personal with a snowman chilling in Whistler Village.

*Cue that song about building a snowman from Frozen*

On a more serious note, the video proves winter weather isn't a guarantee that all of Whistler's black bears are settled in their dens for the winter. It was filmed just a few days before Sea to Sky conservation officers made the difficult decision to kill a black bear after its escalating behaviour— including approaching people in search of food— was deemed a public safety risk. (it's unclear whether the bear shown in the video is the same animal killed by conservation officers in mid-December.) 

Take this as your first reminder of 2023 to keep all attractants, like garbage and birdseed, out of wildlife's reach in the coming months.