Video: bear filmed on closed ski slope in French Pyrénées
Hikers’ video gains thousands of views
The bear was seen crossing the Guzet ski resort (Ariège)
Shutterstock / ldgfr photos, Facebook
A group of hikers filmed a bear crossing an unused ski slope in the French Pyrénées on Saturday (April 4).
The video was taken in Guzet (Ariège), which has been closed to skiers since March 22.
The bear was spotted on a former piste rouge, “right next to the observatory, just a few hundred metres from a residential area,” read the original Facebook post in the group Arièjo! O moun païs.
The video has since been shared by local media outlets, attracting thousands of views and hundreds of comments.
The bear’s presence on the slopes could be explained by the milder temperatures, a spokesperson from the Guzet resort told La Dépêche du Midi.
Bear sightings in the resort are rare, with the animals more commonly spotted near the Ars waterfall - as was the case on March 21.
More than 100 bears currently live on the French side of the mountain range according to the Office Français de la Biodiversité (French wildlife office), and some 22 cubs were born in 2024.
A report in December 2025 noted a further five litters on the French side of the mountains had been detected, further increasing numbers, with at least one other litter on the Spanish side.
Hikers in the Ariège have previously been advised by local groups to stick strictly to hiking trails and wear fluorescent clothing to minimise the risk of coming across a bear.
