Spirit Bears
The spirit bear, also known as the Kermode bear, is a rare subspecies of black bear only found on remote islands along British Columbia's north coast. These genetically distinct bears have unique white or cream-colored fur, resulting from a double recessive gene present in a small percentage of the black bear population. It’s believed they evolved over the last 10,000 years from black bear stock that became isolated from inland black bear populations. Recent studies estimate there are only 100-500 spirit bears in the world.
Inhabiting the rainforest, spirit bears sustain themselves on a diet of plants, berries, and salmon. Their white coloration likely offers an advantage in hunting salmon by making them less visible to their prey compared to regular black bears. During winter, spirit bears hibernate in the cavities of large old-growth trees. They give birth to cubs while still in hibernation. The cubs, born blind, will remain in the den until mom wakes in the spring.
Spirit bears are revered by the indigenous people of the region, who believe the bears have special spiritual significance and are symbols of peace and harmony. The Gitga'at and Kitasoo/Xai'xais First Nations have strong cultural connections to spirit bears and have played vital roles in their protection and conservation efforts.
