Know What This Is?

This, my friends, is a Kermode bear. NOT a polar bear. NOT an albino black bear. He is, in fact a white black bear. Its a recessive gene that causes this to occur. These little guys are the rarest of the rare. There's two islands down the Douglas Channel where there's a large (large for these guys) population of these creatures. This little buddy has been wondering around my hometown for a while. A LOT of people have been lucky enough to see him. They are also referred to as Spirit Bear. Princess Royal Island and Gribbell Island are home to a great deal of these guys. The reason being that they're geographically separated from the general black bear population. Apparently as many as one in ten is born with the recessive gene and their white coat stays with them their entire life. I grew up in Kitimat and never ONCE saw one of these bears. I am SO SO jealous that there's one roaming around and I don't get to see it!