White Bear

There are actually two types of white bear in Canada - the Kermode bear of British Columbia and, of course, the almighty polar bear of the Arctic.

“When the term white bear is used, people need to clarify which species they are referring to,” says Greg Lynch, an adventure-seeker with Scenic Travel Canada. “Each belong to a distinct species and in fact, can not interbreed.”

The Kermode Bear, also known as the Spirit Bear, is actually a genetic mutation of the black bear. Its color can range from bleached white to golden. No matter its color, it’s still considered a black bear and can only mate with bears of this species. Size wise, it can reach up to 300 lbs which is small in comparison to the polar bear.

The color of the polar bear ranges from white to tan but their skin is actually black, to absorb as much radiant heat from the sun. The polar bear has adapted well to its northern environment. The white hair is actually translucent and reflects sunlight down the shaft to be absorbed by the skin.

Spirit Bears are found in large numbers (a few hundred) in the Great Bear Rainforest along the Pacific coast of British Columbia. Black bears on Princess Royal Island in particular seem to possess this recessive gene. However, light-colored bears have been seen occasionally throughout Canada and all the way to Minnesota.

The Polar bear’s territory covers the entire northern regions of Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Norway and Russia. Most hunt along the exposed coastline where the abundant seal populations are located. When the pack ice is unusually heavy, polar bears have been spotted as far south as in Labrador and Newfoundland.

• Black bears are the smallest of the North American bears and can weigh up to 500 lbs. Spirit bears are not albino since they eyes are not red.
• These bears can not mate with Grizzly or Polar bears.
• Black bears can live up to 25 years old.

• The polar bear is the largest land predator in the world. These giants can reach up to 1700 lbs – as much as a small car - and, with their keen sense of smell, can stealthily hunt and kill moose, seals, whales, walruses and even unaware and unarmed humans.
• Polar bears are being studied because of their ability to gorge themselves on seal blubber without detriment to their liver, kidney or cardiovascular systems. The stored fat is all that they have to carry them over the lean summer months.
• Polar bears and Grizzly bears can mate. Hybrid bears have been spotted in Canada and Alaska.

• Polar bears can live from 25 to 30 years.

The white bear is a generic term that describes some of the various bears in Canada.