White bear

[seahuntr]

I thought you would enjoy a picture of a kermode bear, a white phase of a black bear that I took a few years ago. A very rare bear. We were returning from Alaska through the islands of B.C. There are only on a few islands they live on.. I spotted it and approached the beach and stopped my boat. He was completed indiffent about my approach. We were about 15 feet from him. We were watching him over the bow as he watched us. The moment lasted about 10 minutes or so. I am trying to track my old crewmen to get more pictures.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Wow! Beautiful bear! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bill Zent]

I second Gerald's post!

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Me three! Have read about them, hope to see one with my own eyes. Are they protected?

 

[mixedbag]

very cool picture.Would love to see one myself someday

 

[Joe Hulburt]

That is cool! I've been reading about them and plan to head up that way next month to check it out. I doubt we will be able to get to the island they are on but will some day.

One bear I wouldn't kill...

 

[seahuntr]

I think they are protected. Would not shoot one in any case.

 

[highmountian]

That's a cool pic. Wish there more of them around they would make a cool mount.

 

[big28hunter]

Is that similar to a glacier bear? Regardless a beautiful critter. Thanks for sharing!

 

[seahuntr]

Yup, glacier bears are a blue phase of a black bear. Mostly around Yakutat area. I think natives can hunt them. One of my crewman was native from Yatutat and has see them a few times.

 

[Trigger50]

Sweet. They are protected, right?

 

[Joe Hulburt]

Sweet. They are protected, right?

It sounds like all black bears in The Great Bear Rainforest recently became protected which upset a lot of outfitters. Only 2% of bears there are Kermode so they would like to hunt the black ones but the problem is black black bears can have the recessive gene that both parents need to have a Kermode cub.