Spirit Bear

Kermode Bear Subspecies

SPIRIT BEAR

 

What is the spirit bear?When people say “white bear in a forest”, what do you think? Polar bear in the wrong place? Or an albino? No! There is a bear that lives ONLY in British Columbia’s rainforest, mostly in (something) Island.

The Spirit bear (Ursus americanus kermodei), or moskgm’ol (white bear), as called by the Tsimshian Coastal First Nations, is thought by scientists to be a genetic variation of the black bear that roams throught British Columbia.

The spirit bear fascinates geneticists and wilderness lovers. By conducting DNA analysis on the bear, scientists have isolated the gene that causes the white coat.

Spirit bears are geographically isolated from other black bear populations – they are found only in British Columbia, mainly on Princess Royal Island and Prince Rupert. It is estimated that less than 400 spirit bears can be found in BC.

Spirit bears are the king of salmon hunters. Their white fur makes it hard for fish to see them against the sun, so they can catch more salmon than other black bears.