Welcome to the Great Bear Rainforest

Home of the Kermode Bear

An image of large bear with light cream coloured fur standing in the middle of a river surrounded by a green forest.

The Kermode Bear (Ursus americanus kermodei), also known, as the Spirit Bear or Ghost Bear is a subspecies of the American Black Bear that can be found in the Central and North Coast regions of British Columbia, Canada (primarly in the Great Bear Rainforest). They were first discovered by Western science in 1905 and are named after Francis Kermode who researched the bears alongside William Hornaday who discovered them. Prior to this, the Indigenous Peoples of the area kept the existence of these bears a secret to protect them from fur traders. The exact number of Kermode Bears in existence is unknown, but it is estimated there are no more than 400 or as few as 50. It is considered one of the the rarest animals in the world. Kermode Bears are protected and there are ongoing conservation efforts led by Indigenous Peoples and scientists to ensure their survival.

Kermode Bear Facts

Despite apperances, the Kermode Bear is not albino. They have a rare recessive gene that makes their fur white or cream. Both parent bears must have this gene for their cub to be white, similiar to human genes for blue eyes or red hair.
According to the Kitasoo/Xai'xai and other Indigenous Peoples of the area, Raven the Creator (Wee'get) made one in ten black bears white to remind him of when the world was covered by frozen glaciers and how we should be grateful for lush green forests. Bears are considered to be the keepers of dreams and memory and Spirit Bears (moksgm'ol) are a symbol for childhood purity.
Due to their colouring, Kermode Bears are much more adept at fishing than darker coloured bears. They blend in with the sky so the fish (usually salmon) don't notice them.
In 2006, the Kermode Bear was adopted as the official animal of the province of British Columbia.