First black bear uses Snoqualmie Pass I-90 animal bridge

Brace yourself for some bear-y good news," as a state spokesperson put it.

While Seattle has been breaking public transit records during the World Cup, Snoqualmie Pass racked up its own big win: the first black bear documented using its Interstate 90 animal overcrossing since recording started in late 2018.

The overcrossing is found east of the summit in Snoqualmie Pass and is one of about dozen structures in that area for helping fish and animals get over or under the highway, according to Summer Derrey, spokesperson for WSDOT.

The structure itself runs about 150 feet wide and vaults 60 feet into the air and has 8-foot walls that border the bridge.

Video posted by WSDOT on Instagram shows the bear bounding through the overcrossing, which looks like a field tucked among the forest seen in the background. The video noted that researchers in Canada's Banff National Park observed that it took some years for black bears to get comfortable crossing a similar structure there.

"It does take a little bit of time for the bears to cross, as they're a little bit suspicious," Derrey said. "Likely we'll see more bears as they get familiar and comfortable.

Since WSDOT began recording, the agency has documented 9,390 critter crossings over the overcrossing, according to Derrey. Sightings have previously included beaver, elk, coyote, hare, bobcat, otter, mink, skunk, raccoon, deer, cougar and weasel.

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This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 6:40 AM.