Kermode Bear

Where can I see the Kermode Bear

Photo credit
Michel Viard
,

There are a few bears in the world that are considered to be "special" – they're called spirit bears, or kermode bears. These black bears have white fur, and are only found in the Great Bear Rainforest on the coast of British Columbia. Kermode bears are special for a few reasons: first of all, they're not very common (only about 10% of black bears in the area are kermodes); secondly, they're known as being incredibly gentle and shy animals; and finally, many people believe that these bears are messengers from the spirit world. If you're lucky enough to see a kermode bear in the wild, it's definitely an experience you'll never forget!

A full grown male Kermode Bear is about 5 feet tall and can weight up to 500 pounds, whereas a female is smaller with a weight of up to 200 pounds.

Kermode Bear fur is usually an off-white color, but when in direct sunlight they appear to be a light brown. This white color is due to the animal's high concentration of melanin that develops naturally within the bear's body at birth. It marks them as different from other types of bears and makes them unique. However, there are some Kermode Bears born without this melanin pigmentation making their fur brown instead like most other varieties of black bear. These animals are called "ghosts" for this reason.

Animal population
400 and 1,200
Population
IUCN Classification
Least Concern (LC)
IUCN Classification
Best time to see the Kermode Bear
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Perfect
Good
Tolerable
Awful

Geeky Facts about the Kermode Bear

Fact 1

They have a rare recessive gene that makes their fur white or cream.

Fact 2

A Kermode’s nose and paws are dark brown or black, so it is incorrect to call a Kermode an albino.

Fact 3

They lounge in a den, under a tree or among fallen tree roots.

Tours where I can see the Kermode Bear

No items found.

Stories about the Kermode Bear

No items found.

Areas of Natural Beauty where you can see the Kermode Bear in the wild

Countries where you can see the Kermode Bear

Big Cats
Big Cats
Big Cats
Birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching
Canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing
Canyoning
Canyoning
Canyoning
Cruise
Cruise
Cruise
Culture
Culture
Culture
Cycling
Cycling
Cycling
Festivals
Festivals
Festivals
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Hiking
Hiking
Hiking
Kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking
Mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering
Natural Wonders
Natural Wonders
Natural Wonders
Photography
Photography
Photography
Polar
Polar
Polar
Primates
Primates
Primates
Rafting
Rafting
Rafting
Rail
Rail
Rail
Safari
Safari
Safari
Sailing
Sailing
Sailing
Skiing
Skiing
Skiing
Snorkelling
Snorkelling
Snorkelling
Whale Watching
Whale Watching
Whale Watching
Wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife
Winter Sports
Winter Sports
Winter Sports
Zip Lining
Zip Lining
Zip Lining