The Great Bear Rainforest and a humpback whale, Jack Borno, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 license. She loves to study nature and write about living things. If a bear has a dominant allele for hair colour paired with another dominant one, it has black hair. He's after a more revered and rare creature: what the Gitga'at call mooksgm'ol, the spirit bear, a walking contradiction—a white black bear.Neither albino nor polar bear, the spirit bear (also known as the Kermode bear) is a white variant of the North American black bear, and it's found almost exclusively here in the Great Bear Rainforest. According to the Government of British Columbia, the forest has a total size of 6.4 million hectares (or 15.8 million acres). I appreciate your visit and comment. Thank you for commenting. They reach reproductive maturity at three to four years of age. These are Kermode Bears, also known as Spirit Bears. This is definitely not advisable for most of us. Some of the photographers do get surprisingly close to the bears. The bears are inactive during winter. And the Great Bear Rainforest is huge -- over 15 million acres is amazing, and the perfect habitat for these gorgeous creatures, except for the loggers and grizzlies. The photographer in the video below describes how he got amazingly close to a particular spirit bear. The Kermode bear also known as a “spirit bear”, is a subspecies of the North American black bear found only on the north coast of British Columbia, Canada. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on February 02, 2020: I appreciate your comment, Denise. Though the animal loses body fat during the winter, it may actually increases its lean body mass (mass due to muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and organs). Black (and white) bears are considered to be potentially dangerous where I live, though not as dangerous as grizzlies. Rubika Shah’s energising film charts a vital London protest movement. I hope scientists learn more about it. Linda Chechar from Arizona on July 19, 2019: I've never heard of the Kermode bear. They stay in the den until their mother decides to leave it. I hope the Great Bear Rainforest is preserved, thank you for sharing this article. The light animals are so unusual that they might be mistaken for polar bears that have lost their way. I think the spirit bear is a beautiful animal, too. Genes exist in the form of alleles, or gene variants. Although the White-eyed Vireo usually stays in dense cover, it is not always hard to see; it will come up to examine and scold a birder who stands near the bushes and makes squeaking sounds. It forages in the understory often out of sight, but sings nearly all day to let you know it's there. Eman Abdallah Kamel from Egypt on May 23, 2019: A very interesting and educational article about the Kermode bear. During the night, the success rate between the black-coloured Black Bear and the white-coloured Black Bear even up. Spirit bears are occasionally found in other parts of North America where Ursus americanus lives, but nowhere else on Earth has as many animals as coastal British Columbia. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 19, 2019: Hi, Nithya. According to u/Volvo_Commander, “In southeast Alaska these exist and are called “Glacier Bears” FYI.” Overview Overview Related Related. This is an interesting and very informative article. It's approximately the size of Ireland and holds about one quarter of the world's intact coastal temperate rainforest. Thanks so much for this fascinating article, Linda. They are beautiful animals. They line the den with branches and leaves. See more ideas about spirit bear, bear, kermode bear. Fascinating work, Alicia. While the forest is officially a preservation area, restricted and managed logging occurs in specific areas. Rock Against Racism (RAR) was formed in 1976, prompted by ‘music’s biggest colonialist’ Eric Clapton and his support of racist MP Enoch Powell. From the depths of a thicket, a yellow-spectacled bird peers through, its white eye gleaming and its yellow sides shining. I had never heard of a spirit bear before! Absolutely loved this article! Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on July 29, 2019: Hi, Devika. Thanks for commenting. © 2021 Maven Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on July 19, 2019: Hi, Linda. The differences are sometimes said to be due to dirt in their fur. Alleles are paired and are either dominant or recessive. The winter period of inactivity in bears is usually known as torpor or a winter sleep instead of hibernation. The guy in the second has such a sweet smile, so I figure that the white bear can be considered as one of nature's healers, according to my Hub. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 30, 2019: Hi, Mary. Those videos were very interesting to view. It is possible for two black bears to mate and produce a white cub. I think it's important to preserve the Great Bear Rainforest for many reasons. The gene story is an amazing one too! Unlike the other white or albino animals on this list, the Kermode bear’s white coat has been noted to help with its survival skills. The wire used is harmless and is often seen by a bear as a good place to get a scratch. For me, it symbolizes the impressive rainforest on the north and central coast of the province. An albino bear would lack pigment in each of these areas, more likely expressing as pink or white all over. Kermode bears, also known as spirit bears, are incredibly elusive. Bears behave in the most unusual ways. They look powerful, majestic and while you sort of hinted that one should not get too close, they don't seem all that dangerous. The bears may dig their own den, but they often sleep in holes in tree stumps or in dens dug by another animal. I don't think these bears go that far, but these are hauntingly beautiful habitats. Leucism (/ ˈluːsɪzəm, - kɪz -/) is a wide variety of conditions that result in the partial loss of pigmentation in an animal —causing white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales, or cuticles, but not the eyes. Spirit bears are found in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia. ... On what gives the spirit bears their white fur. The nose, eyes, lips, and paws are dark colored. I loved watching the bear catch fish. Thanks for sharing this beautiful bear's story with us! If the animal has two recessive alleles, it will have white hair. The current deal for mixing conservation and logging was created by the government and was established in 2016. The dominant allele prevents the recessive one from doing its job. I hope biologists learn more about the bears and are able to help keep them safe. It sounds like they're a significant part of the ecosystem. In addition, she awakens quickly if she's threatened. I love the name spirit bear, too. The allele for white hair is less common than the one for black hair. It is occasionally spelled leukism. Researchers have discovered that the female wakes up occasionally after the cubs have been born. bcspiritbear.com. Even when it … Beautiful, breathtaking scenery in your videos. The difference in coat colour is caused by a single recessive nucleotide difference (A893G) in the melanocortin 1 The white bear is less common than the black one, so it may not be widely known outside of British Columbia. The male's territory contains the territories of several females. As […] Hi, Lora. The bear is said to be a carrier for the recessive allele and may pass it to its offspring. The photographers are familiar with the bears that they are filming and understand the significance of a particular animal's behaviour. Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on May 18, 2019: How is it possible that I have never heard of the Kermode? The Spirit bear is one of the most protected bears you can find on earth. White Riot blends fresh interviews with queasy archive footage to recreate a hostile environment of anti-immigrant hysteria and National Front marches. I enjoyed watching the video. Great hunting skills! Nithya Venkat from Dubai on May 19, 2019: I enjoyed reading and getting to know so many interesting facts about the spirit bear. I'm glad you found the videos interesting. The researchers attract bears to the fence by placing strong-smelling salmon or other material beside it. It's possible that there is an additional factor or factors influencing their hair colour, however. Thank you very much, Flourish. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. I am so very proud of the natural beauty we have here. I totally agree with you on the importance of preserving the Great Bear Rainforest and hope that the government will do all that it can to save this habitat and these awesome animals! The allele for black hair in bears in dominant and the allele for white hair is recessive. The pale and sometimes ghostly appearance of the animals has given rise to the alternate names spirit bear and ghost bear. I hope you have a great week. I'm glad that you enjoyed the article. The Great Bear Rainforest extends from the east of Haida Gwaii to the east of northern Vancouver island. He promised that the bear would stay safe if he was allowed to change one out of ten them into a white bear to remind them of the hardships provided by the snow and ice. Matthew Scherer from Corpus Christi on May 22, 2019: Very informative! Though spirit bears are light in colour, their colour may not be same everywhere on their body. The Kermode bear is a subspecies of the black bear that lives in British Columbia. This is so informative. I actually thought they were albinos. The animal is named after Francis Kermode, the first director of the Royal BC Museum, which is why its common name is capitalized. I am so glad they are protected by the people. I agree, Lorelei. The bears sometimes live for as long as twenty-five years. The blood spot can look scary but is usually harmless and often heals on its own. Dominant alleles overrule recessive ones. Bears are interesting animals. Around ten to thirty percent of Kermode bears are white or cream instead of black. The white Kermode bear, a rare ursa sacred to local tribes, is now the center of a fierce battle to protect British Columbia’s rainforest. The whites of your eye are called the sclera, and these can indicate a person’s overall health. Maximilian Helm, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 license. The percentage depends on the location. Contrary to popular belief, Kermode bears are not albino, since they have dark eyes and noses. Thank you for sharing. The bears mate in summer. I would love to explore the Olympic Peninsula. Estimates are generally in the range of 100 to 300 animals. Unfortunately they have wandered over the border into Spain and are causing problems for farmers and their animals. In fact, the female wakes up to give birth to her cubs during the winter and then returns to sleep. A Kermode bear, or “Spirit Bear” is a black bear with a rare recessive gene that makes their fur a creamy white color. It seems very appropriate. What a wonderful article full of fascinating information on this gorgeous animal. The kermode bear is a unique subspecies of the American Black Bear. I hope the forest is preserved, too. They can reportedly stay in their winter torpor for as long as seven months. Thank you very much, Pamela. I love the name the Spirit Bear and I hope that these bears will be around for generations to come. The tours are led by local people who respect the animals and make sure that are aren't disturbed by visitors. Mammals normally excrete urea in water as urine. Interesting information. Your article is extremely informative. I think that spirit bears are especially interesting as well as beautiful. Hopefully we will never lose sight of the importance all species have within Canada and our global communities. Eco-tourism is becoming popular in the bear's habitat. Now you mention it, I seem to have read this somewhere … the term, I mean. Bears can sometimes be dangerous animals. I think that bears in general are interesting animals, but spirit bears are intriguing. The large, northern Canadian island in the map (which is actually an archipelago) is called Haida Gwaii. The black bear has the scientific name Ursus americanus. Fascinating article, Linda. They are unique and lovely animals. The scientific name of the Kermode bear is Ursus americanus kermodei. Good to know. They are a subspecies of the American Black Bear and live mostly on three islands in the Great Bear Rainforest, Gribbell Island, Princess Royal Island, and Roderick Island. Lorelei Cohen from Canada on May 17, 2019: Living in B.C. Though the animals vary considerably in size, males are generally bigger than females. White Kermode bears were once considered to be merely a legend of the Gitga'at and Kitasoo First Nations people. This includes parts of British Columbia and several islands off the coast. Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on May 18, 2019: Thanks for introducing us to the White Kermode aka Spirit Bear. The animal's heart, breathing, and metabolic rate decrease, its temperature decreases slightly, and it doesn't release urine or feces. White Kermode bears are not albinos as they still have pigmented eyes and skin. Heidi Thorne from Chicago Area on May 20, 2019: They sure do look like polar bears! A bright red spot on the white of your eye is typically a sign of a subconjunctival hemorrhage. I hope such beautiful and important habitats are preserved. Rather, a single, nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution in the MC1R gene causes melanin to not be produced. It's a beautiful habitat as well as an important one. It is a beautiful animal and one worth preserving. This habitat is known as the Great Bear Rainforest. Scientists have found that black bears are not as effective at catching fish as the white bears, since their white color makes them less visible from the perspective of the fish. white of the eye (1987) Apr 28, 2014 Blu Ray Comments 0 Donald Cammell’s four feature films stand out for several reasons, one of them being his work as the co-director of one of the top British films of all time, PERFORMANCE , along with trained cinematographer Nicolas Roeg. Who are the indigenous people? Its body breaks down stored fat to create the urea. The government praises itself as the preserver of the forest and advertises the area as having global importance, yet logging still continues. It's often used for only the white animals, however. If it gets an allele for white hair from both of its parents, it will be a spirit bear. Thank you. During winter, however, bears use the nitrogen in the urea to create protein instead of adding it to water and then urinating. The Kermode or ‘spirit’ bear is a white-phased coat-colour variant of the black bear (Ursus americanus Pallus). Mel Carriere from Snowbound and down in Northern Colorado on May 17, 2019: You are always introducing fascinating new creatures to me. In a wealthy and isolated desert community, a sound expert is targeted as the prime suspect of a series of brutal murders of local suburban housewives who were attacked and mutilated in their homes. Thickets and scrubby areas seem to vibrate with the spunky song of the White-eyed Vireo every summer in the southeastern United States. Since they are white they stand out … The white color is the result of a union of two black bears who carry a recessive gene called MC1R. The north coast region of British Columbia isn't located in the northern part of the province due to the southern extension of Alaska, as can be seen in the map below. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 18, 2019: Hi, Peggy. I appreciate your visit. Having yellowish or reddish sclera can be challenging in terms of personal vanity, since they can make a person look older or tired. Genna East from Massachusetts, USA on May 26, 2019: Oh my goodness -- that camera crew is so close to the bear...but he seems far more interested in the salmon. I like the photos. Linda Crampton (author) from British Columbia, Canada on May 26, 2019: Hi, Genna. This also contributes to the success of the Spirit Bear population. Its size gives it global importance. The animal and its habitat are worth protecting. The female produces one to three cubs in her den during the winter. What beautiful animals and this place must be like a sort of garden of Eden away from humans and so full of life! Like a black bear, the Kermode bear’s claws are black, while the nose and paws are dark brown or black. Spirit or Ghost Bear The Kermode bear is a subspecies of the black bear that lives in British Columbia. Researchers have found that this fertilization has an effect on the plant types in the area as well as their growth. … The beautiful spirit bear is important in the culture and history of the local indigenous people and is the official mammal of British Columbia. The legend is related to Raven, an important and powerful character in First Nations stories who has creative powers. Overview. Thank you very much for the comment, Manatita. Scientists are attempting to study Kermode bears without disturbing them. Linda Crampton is a writer and teacher with an honors degree in biology. The First Nations are the indigenous people of British Columbia. The Kermode bear is a white black bear—a variant of the North American black bear—that lives in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. I thoroughly enjoyed this article Linda. Their colouration is caused by a different method from albinism. Kermode Bear Characteristics. I know hardly anything about them. It's an interesting animal. Map of British Columbia (the white areas in the map), NordNordWest, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 license. Kermode introduces Subscribe to watch. It's an unusual animal. Their color is believed to be caused by a recessive gene trait. It's an interesting period in time! I never heard about spirit bears before, there is always something new to learn about! Spirit bears are held in great esteem by the local people, who are working to protect them. Their physiological state during the winter is so interesting as the females are not exactly hybernating when feeding her cubs. The indigenous people in British Columbia were once known as Indians, but the term First Nations is used now. Thank you very much for the comment. We had Caribs and Arawaks when the French came to Grenada and wiped them all out. I hope the logging industry is kept under strict control and that the spirit bear and the rainforest continue to exist. Spirit bears have white or cream fur but dark eyes and a dark nose, so they aren't albinos. I was interested to read a news report recently about bears rescued from Eastern Europe and then released into the wild in France. I hadn't come across these species of bear before. The main habitat of the Kermode bear is the so-called “Great Bear Rainforest." 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