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Post by brobear on Dec 17, 2018 1:55:18 GMT -5
bcspiritbear.com/spirit-bear-facts/ The rare Spirit Bear is known locally by several names; -Kermode Bear, named after Francis Kermodei, former director of the Royal B.C. Museum. -White Bear or Ghost Bear is often used by local folks. -Moksgm’ol by local First Nations. -Ursus americanus kermodei by Scientists. -Spirit Bear is a more recent name for the White Bear. Appropriate for a bear that is known for it’s elusive, ghostly yet timid nature. This rare White Bear is actually a Black Bear! Scientists are actively studying this rare genetic trait that is possibly due to a recessive gene, or could be due to a result of a concentration of gene in a given area. The Spirit Bear is not an albino. Scientists estimate there are 1,200 black and white Kermode bears in the coast area that stretches from around the northern tip of Vancouver Island northwards to the Alaska panhandle. On Gribbell Island, up to 30 per cent of the bears can be white while on the larger Princess Royal Island, about 10 per cent have the white coat. Many sightings are reported around the Terrace area, making the Spirit Bear it’s official mascot. They are often seen as far east as Hazelton, as far north as the Nass Valley up to Cranberry Junction and as far west as Prince Rupert. Even though Kitimat is closest to the largely populated area of Princess Royal Island, there are almost no sightings in the area. Check out the first ever map of Spirit Bear Sighting Map in the Great Bear Rainforest, which is a protected area for these rare, special bears. Like most black bears, the Spirit Bear only weighs about half a pound at birth, growing to 150-300 pounds when fully grown. The Kermode’s size averages between 4 and 6 feet. Height measured from paw to shoulders averages between 2 ½ and 3 feet. The beautiful Spirit Bear will eat almost anything. Including you! However, there have been no reports of them eating people. Being omnivores, they mostly live on fish and berries, but also eat deer and moose fawns, carrion, insects, plants, fruits, nuts, mushrooms and nuts. They depend on salmon runs in the fall to fatten themselves up for the long winter hibernation, where they can go without food for up to 7 months. They are seen mostly alone, except sows with cubs. If you see a Mother sow bear with cubs, keep your distance, they’re rather ferocious towards any perceived threat. When walking in the deep woods, chant or whistle to let them know of your presence so you don’t surprise them. They are known to run up to 55 km an hour! Females reach sexual maturity at three to four years of age. They mate during the late spring, early summer months, gestating about 220 days. Cubs are born in their mother’s winter den in January or February, and are weaned at about eight months, but may remain with their mother for up to a year-and-a-half, when she is ready to mate again. Like black bears, their average life span is about 25 years. Check out the first ever book written on The White Spirit Bear written by the venerable Tess Tessier; “This book tells the story of the unusual and beautiful creatures that inhabit ancient rainforests on the northwest coast of British Columbia. Seldom interacting with humans, these rare white black bears have lived peacefully for centuries in the pristine environment of Princess Royal Island and the surrounding mainland. Readers will discover where the bears live, what they eat, how they behave and why they are white. Known as the bears’ goodwill ambassador, author Grandma Tess also discusses the importance of preserving the bears’ habitat. Through her messages of ‘caring and sharing’, readers realize the importance of learning to live in harmony with all the creatures of the earth. The author introduces the Spirit Bears through stunning photographs and informative topics. The book appeals to different reading levels so that children can read along, read aloud or read alone. There is simple text for beginners and there is fuller, complementary text for more experienced readers. Though it is written for young people, the subject is one that concerns everyone. This book is sure to be treasured by the entire family.”
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Post by brobear on Feb 7, 2019 18:06:51 GMT -5
imaxvictoria.com/movie/great-bear-rainforest/ Opens February 15 at this theatre. Journey to a land of grizzlies, coastal wolves, sea otters and the all-white spirit bear — the rarest bear on earth — in the film Great Bear Rainforest. Hidden from the outside world, the Great Bear Rainforest is one of the wildest places left on earth. Found on Canada’s remote Pacific coast, it is the last intact temperate rainforest in the world—a place protected by the region’s indigenous people for millennia. Now, for the first time ever, experience this magical world in IMAX and discover the land of the spirit bear.
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Post by brobear on Mar 12, 2019 15:13:29 GMT -5
Eastern Black Bear Eastern Montana to the Atlantic coast, from Alaska south and east through Canada to Maine and south to Texas. Thought to be increasing in some regions. Kermode Bear The Kermode bear (Ursus americanus kermodei) is also known as the spirit bear or ghost bear because of its rarity and because a small percentage of them have white coats. The species Ursus kermodei was named in 1905 in honor of Francis Kermode, a zoologist who conducted the first studies into the origins of these bears. In 1928, the Kermode bear was reclassified as a subspecies of the American black bear. It is believed that Kermode bears evolved over the last 10,000 years from black bears that became isolated more than 300,000 years ago.
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Post by King Kodiak on Mar 16, 2019 6:50:24 GMT -5
(PICS INSIDE) Spirit Bears of the Great Bear Rainforest This vast, pristine wilderness is home to a rare subspecies of black bear. On the central and northern coast of British Columbia is a vast and pristine wilderness. Prowling within this wooded swath of earth is the rare Kermode Bear. Often referred to as spirit bears, the Kermode is not a Polar Bear or an albino, it’s a rare subspecies of American Black bear with a recessive gene that causes its fur to be white. Between 10 to 20 percent of bears in this region are born with this recessive gene. The spirit bears are the main attraction to the forest, as this is the only place in the world you can find them. Fewer than 400 are estimated to exist, with the majority living on Princess Royal Island, Gribble Island, and Roderick Island. The chance of spotting one of these amazing bears isn’t the only reason to visit Great Bear Rainforest. While there, you can explore forests, glacial fjords, and soak in hot springs. You can enjoy hiking, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife safari. The rainforest is home to wolves, moose, otter, eagles, and dolphins. The Khutzeymateen region is home to the world’s largest population of Grizzly Bears, while Johnstone Strait and Broughton Archipelago are some of the best places in the world to spot orcas. In 2016, the British Columbia government officially recognized the ecological and cultural importance of the region and thus passed the Great Bear Rainforest Act which protects 85 percent of the forest from habitat destruction. Know Before You Go There are few roads into Great Bear Rainforest. The area is mostly accessible by boat or floatplane with several operators providing fights and sailing tours. The warmest times to visit the forest are June to August and bear viewing seasons is June to October. The best time to see bears is late August to September during the annual salmon run when the bears are hunting the fish. Great Bear Rainforest is a pristine and protected environment so please practice responsible tourism by not leaving trash or chemicals in the forest, rivers, or ocean. Remember you are a visitor in the bear's home. Bears are majestic, wild animals capable of inflicting serious harm so please practice bear etiquette. www.atlasobscura.com/places/great-bear-rainforest
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2019 8:02:17 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2019 21:55:52 GMT -5
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Jun 19, 2019 7:49:30 GMT -5
It seems that in places with an abundance of meat, brown bears and black bears become more carnivorous.
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Post by King Kodiak on Jun 20, 2019 17:02:11 GMT -5
It seems that in places with an abundance of meat, brown bears and black bears become more carnivorous. Thats something natural.
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Post by brobear on Dec 27, 2019 6:43:14 GMT -5
bcspiritbear.com/spirit-bear-facts/ Spirit Bear by Stephanie Waymen bcspiritbear.com/http://bcspiritbear.com/The rare Spirit Bear is known locally by several names; -Kermode Bear, named after Francis Kermodei, former director of the Royal B.C. Museum. -White Bear or Ghost Bear is often used by local folks. -Moksgm’ol by local First Nations. -Ursus americanus kermodei by Scientists. -Spirit Bear is a more recent name for the White Bear. Appropriate for a bear that is known for it’s elusive, ghostly yet timid nature. This rare White Bear is actually a Black Bear! Scientists are actively studying this rare genetic trait that is possibly due to a recessive gene, or could be due to a result of a concentration of gene in a given area. The Spirit Bear is not an albino. Scientists estimate there are 1,200 black and white Kermode bears in the coast area that stretches from around the northern tip of Vancouver Island northwards to the Alaska panhandle. On Gribbell Island, up to 30 per cent of the bears can be white while on the larger Princess Royal Island, about 10 per cent have the white coat. Many sightings are reported around the Terrace area, making the Spirit Bear it’s official mascot. They are often seen as far east as Hazelton, as far north as the Nass Valley up to Cranberry Junction and as far west as Prince Rupert. Even though Kitimat is closest to the largely populated area of Princess Royal Island, there are almost no sightings in the area. Check out the first ever map of Spirit Bear Sighting Map in the Great Bear Rainforest, which is a protected area for these rare, special bears. Like most black bears, the Spirit Bear only weighs about half a pound at birth, growing to 150-300 pounds when fully grown. The Kermode’s size averages between 4 and 6 feet. Height measured from paw to shoulders averages between 2 ½ and 3 feet. The beautiful Spirit Bear will eat almost anything. Including you! However, there have been no reports of them eating people. Being omnivores, they mostly live on fish and berries, but also eat deer and moose fawns, carrion, insects, plants, fruits, nuts, mushrooms and nuts. They depend on salmon runs in the fall to fatten themselves up for the long winter hibernation, where they can go without food for up to 7 months. They are seen mostly alone, except sows with cubs. If you see a Mother sow bear with cubs, keep your distance, they’re rather ferocious towards any perceived threat. When walking in the deep woods, chant or whistle to let them know of your presence so you don’t surprise them. They are known to run up to 55 km an hour! Females reach sexual maturity at three to four years of age. They mate during the late spring, early summer months, gestating about 220 days. Cubs are born in their mother’s winter den in January or February, and are weaned at about eight months, but may remain with their mother for up to a year-and-a-half, when she is ready to mate again. Like black bears, their average life span is about 25 years.
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Post by brobear on Dec 27, 2019 6:44:28 GMT -5
Spirit Bear:
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Dec 27, 2019 18:42:16 GMT -5
Kemorde bears make up one fourth of the American black bears in Canada. Kemorde bears are not only a subspecies of their own but unlike polar bears with translucent fur which appears white, yellowish white (when older), green (with algae), etc, the spirit bears have white fur which is why I call them the True White Bjorn.
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Post by King Kodiak on Dec 28, 2019 6:44:13 GMT -5
Genetic diversity and differentiation of Kermode bear populations The Kermode bear is a white phase of the North American black bear that occurs in low to moderate frequency on British Columbia's mid-coast. To investigate the genetic uniqueness of populations containing the white phase, and to ascertain levels of gene flow among populations, we surveyed 10 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci, assayed from trapped bear hairs. A total of 216 unique bear genotypes, 18 of which were white, was sampled among 12 localities. Island populations, where Kermodes are most frequent, show approximately 4% less diversity than mainland populations, and the island richest in white bears (Gribbell) exhibited substantial genetic isolation, with a mean pairwise FST of 0.14 with other localities. Among all localities, FST for the molecular variant underlying the coat-colour difference (A893G) was 0.223, which falls into the 95th percentile of the distribution of FST values among microsatellite alleles, suggestive of greater differentiation for coat colour than expected under neutrality. Control-region sequences confirm that Kermode bears are part of a coastal or western lineage of black bears whose existence predates the Wisconsin glaciation, but microsatellite variation gave no evidence of past population expansion. We conclude that Kermodism was established and is maintained in populations by a combination of genetic isolation and somewhat reduced population sizes in insular habitat, with the possible contribution of selective pressure and/or nonrandom mating. Full study here: www.google.com/amp/s/www.researchgate.net/publication/11395336_Genetic_diversity_and_differentiation_of_Kermode_bear_populations/amp
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Post by brobear on Feb 21, 2020 5:13:58 GMT -5
The Winton Foundation for the Welfare of Bears This sleeping bear is a Kermode, one of the rarest bears in the world. In fact, it’s a black bear with white, creamy fur, which is produced by a recessive gene. The photographer tells us "We followed this young male nicknamed “Mushroom” while he was fishing along a small river. Once his belly was full, he settled for a nap on a beautiful mossy log. Despite the fading evening light, we decided to approach. From time to time he’d open his eyes and glance at us, but he never showed any sign of fear or anxiety. We got so close we could hear him breathing. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life." WOW! 10 SPIRIT BEAR FACTS Discover what turns a black bear white and 10 more amazing facts about the spirit bear, also known as the ghost bear or the Kermode bear. ① What is a spirit bear? • Spirit bears aka Kermode bears (Ursus americanus kermodei) are a subspecies of the North American black bear with a rare recessive gene that makes their fur white or cream. ② Is a spirit bear just an albino bear? • No, spirit bears are not albino. They have pigment in their skin and eyes, which wouldn’t be the case with albinos. Spirit bears have a single mutant gene that causes their unusual colouration. ③ Where can you see spirit bears? • Spirit bears are found only in the Great Bear Rainforest, a 6.4 million ha ecosystem on British Columbia’s north and central coast. It is the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest. So if you want to see a spirit bear, you’d better go to Canada! ④ How many spirit bears are left in the world? • No one agrees on the exact number of spirit bears living in this corner of the world, but the best estimate is that the spirit bear population numbers no more than 400 individuals. ⑤ Why are spirit bears so rare? • One in ten black bears is pale, and to produce pale cubs both parents – white or black – must carry the gene that results in the white or cream-coloured coat. That means the chances of a couple of black bears producing a spirit bear is pretty slim, even if one of them is a spirit bear itself. ⑥ What do Native Americans call spirit bears? • The First Nations communities that have lived in the region for thousands of years call the spirit bear moskgm’ol, which simply means ‘white bear’, and view the animal as sacred. ⑦ What do spirit bears eat? • Pacific salmon are the lifeblood of the Great Bear Rainforest. When they return from the ocean in autumn to spawn, spirit bears emerge from the forest to feast on pink, chum and coho salmon before going into hibernation. When they’re not hibernating and there are no salmon around, spirit bears eat a variety of foods including fruits, berries, nuts, grasses, roots, other plants, insects, fawns and carrion. Spirit bears are classic omnivores that can make use of a wide variety of foods. ⑧ Is it harder for spirit bears to hunt? • White bears are actually more successful at catching salmon in daylight compared with black ones. Pale bears are better camouflaged than dark ones by day, because they contrast less with a bright sky background, so salmon don’t notice them as much. Spirit bears may stand out in the rainforest, but they’re actually harder for salmon to sea through the water against ⑨ Are spirit bears important for their environment? • The bears play a key role in the ecosystem, contributing to the growth of the forest by spreading marine nutrients. They carry salmon carcasses deep into the forest where they are absorbed by the forest floor and the nutrients from the ocean are effectively transferred to the trees. Spirit bear sat on a fallen log in a stream in the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia Spirit bears are an extremely important keystone species in their habitat. © Stephen Harrington/Getty ⑩ What threats do spirit bears face? • Because numbers of salmon are down, grizzlies travel farther to look for food and are encroaching on spirit bear territory for the first time. This might be bad news for spirit bears. Grizzlies are larger and stronger, and usually chase other bears off from prime fishing spots. • Bear biologists are concerned about the lack of adequate logging guidelines to protect the big old cedar trees that the spirit bears depend on for hibernating and giving birth to their young. • The government of British Columbia also allows the hunting of grizzly and black bears in the Great Bear Rainforest. So while it is illegal to kill a spirit bear, hunters may shoot a black bear that carries the crucial gene. #BearsMatterMonth Photo by Daisy Gilardini Photography www.facebook.com/Daisy-Gilardini-Photography-387656434583411/Bear Facts from BBC Wildlife: www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-…/…/facts-about-spirit-bear/
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Post by brobear on Feb 21, 2020 5:14:35 GMT -5
From above post - The Winton Foundation for the Welfare of Bears
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 21, 2020 5:48:18 GMT -5
Talking about spirit bears.....
Man Captures Photo of Rare Spirit Bear in Canada Where Only 400 of Its Kind Exist
This photographer recently had a bear-y lucky encounter while fishing in British Columbia, Canada.
Last October, Steven Rose came across a spirit bear — a rare white bear with an estimated 400 or less of its kind left in the wild — while exploring the Great Bear Rainforest, according to Discover Wildlife.
Rose was able to capture several shots of the animal in its habitat as the bear caught hold of fish and moved through a shallow river.
The bears can be seen cleverly digging up the eggs laid by the salmon by clawing away the sand on the riverbed to expose the eggs, then gulping them up,” Rose told the Daily Mailabout his stunning photos.
According to Discover Wildlife, a spirit bear — or a Kermode bear — is a subspecies of the North American black bear. This uncommon animal is not albino, rather the species has a rare gene variation that causes them to be white or cream in color.
Spirit bears are often found on the Canadian islands of Gribbell, Princess Royal and Roderick, where one in ten bears are part of this infrequent species.
The species is considered sacred to the indigenous Tsimshian people, who called the spirit bear “moskgm’ol” meaning “white bear.”
Since the spirit bear is so rare, the government of British Columbia outlawed the hunting of the species. However, as hunting of grizzly and black bears in the Great Bear Rainforest is still allowed, a hunter might kill a black bear that carries the infrequent recessive gene to create the white animal.
www.google.com/amp/s/people.com/pets/rare-white-spirit-bear-photos-canada/amp/
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Aug 10, 2020 6:01:58 GMT -5
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Aug 10, 2020 6:06:59 GMT -5
What Makes a White Bear White By Josh GewolbSep. 18, 2001 , 7:00 PM The brilliant white coat of the rare British Colombian Spirit Bear has long inspired wonder among those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of it. Now researchers have shown that a change in a single DNA base pair differentiates the famous bear from its ordinary black relatives. The gene analysis, reported in Current Biology, could help the Canadian government preserve the animals, only 100 to 200 of which remain in the wild. The Spirit, or Kermode, Bear lives in island rain forests off British Columbia's coast and in adjacent areas of mainland Canada. Although its coat is almost entirely white, the Spirit Bear belongs to the same species, Ursus americanus, as the ordinary black bear. To study the bear's genetics, Kermit Ritland and his colleagues at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver collected bits of hair that 22 white animals and 198 black animals left on trees and small traps in western British Columbia. Using forensic techniques, they isolated DNA for several known pigmentation genes from the samples. The team's focus soon turned to a gene for the melanocortin 1 receptor (mc1r), which tells certain cells to manufacture black and yellow pigments. A single base pair distinguished the gene in black bears from the gene in white ones. The change alters the mc1r protein, which stops the production of both pigments and leaves the animals white. Although the "white" version of the gene is recessive, black bears with one white gene and one black are uncommon. This may indicate that same-colored bears prefer to mate with each other, Ritland says. www.sciencemag.org/news/2001/09/what-makes-white-bear-white
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Post by brobear on Apr 22, 2021 10:18:53 GMT -5
Here's a question for the thinkers here: The Kermode bear ( spirit bear ) eats a healthy amount of salmon each year. Probably a few other black bear subspecies do the same. So, why do black bears not become huge bears from this protein-rich food source as the brown bears do?
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Post by King Kodiak on Apr 22, 2021 11:27:04 GMT -5
Here's a question for the thinkers here: The Kermode bear ( spirit bear ) eats a healthy amount of salmon each year. Probably a few other black bear subspecies do the same. So, why do black bears not become huge bears from this protein-rich food source as the brown bears do? All i can think is because of genetics. No matter what black bears eat they just dont have the genetics to become as big as brown bears. Food is just one factor, but not all. That's just all i can think off.
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Apr 22, 2021 11:34:02 GMT -5
Black bears are just not made to be as large nor as strong as brown bears even at weight parity. Maybe exceptional males can reach 500 pounds on average and 800 pounds at max but that's about it. 500 to 600 pounds are still not unusual for American black bears.
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