Talk:Spirit bear

What relationship to Polar Bears?
Should we suppose that it is something like the Polar Bear - an interesting parallel, though I assume it is much more ancient. Does anyone know? And should there be a link? --GwydionM 18:34, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

It's no relation at all. The Kermode bear is a subspecies of black bear, and the whiteness is caused by a recessive gene, which must be inherited from both parents. This happens to about one in ten bears.

There is also a campaign to have the Spirit Bear designated as the official mascot of the 2010 Olympic Winter games. (205.250.167.76 20:29, 25 March 2007 (UTC))

"No relationship at all" is correct. Beyond the idea that all life is related if you look back far enough, black bears have been shown to be able to successfully breed with polar bears in captivity and produce viable offspring. When you say there's "no relationship" you actually mean that the genetic cause of the white colour is not directly related to the genetic cause of white in polar bears. 142.36.61.137 (talk) 15:49, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Spelling
Kermode or Kermodei? 142.103.207.10 20:52, 10 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Good call, haha. Is one plural? -b 05:23, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, I noticed that and wasn't if it was a typo. I'll try tyo find out. -- Thylacine lover (talk) 20:23, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

The Spirit Bear Fosters a Healthy Human Spirit
What's the purpose of this section? Seems like a bunch of rambling, doesn't contribute much to the article. GrahamNoyes (talk) 02:07, 1 May 2008 (UTC)

Vandalism
I don't know enough about the creature to know. Is "be like bear" vandalism or another name? Wanted to point it out to a more knowledgeable user. Thanks. Somerut (talk) 21:54, 5 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Vandalism :) I've reverted it. Cheers, Clayoquot (talk | contribs) 06:22, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

Physical Characteristics
So, what are their physical characteristics other than being white? Size and such, or are they just like blackbears aside from being white, if so that should be mentioned. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.137.207.191 (talk) 17:56, 5 July 2008 (UTC)

They're essentially just white black bears. White bears exist in other places of the province and broader range of black beras, but the allele frequency is much higher in one particular area. As such, it's a very poor subspecies. Two black black bears can produce a white bear anywhere, and shouldn't be considered a 'subspecies' any more than blue eyed people are a subspecies of human.142.36.61.137 (talk) 15:51, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

I think the article is a little confused about the kermodei Sub-species vs the White characteristics. The Ursus americanus kermodei bears are a sub-species of black bears, most of them are black in colour, but the subspecies has this genein it that results in a significant percentage of individuals being white. The term "Spirit Bear" seems to just refer to the white individuals. What isn't entirely clear is whether the term "Kermode Bear" just refers to white members of the sub-species or the whole kermodei subspecies. --CaptainMonty (talk) 09:19, 6 April 2021 (UTC)

In which language??

 * ''"It is known to the indigenous population as Moksgm’ol."

In which language/area? If around Hazelton the answer is Gitxsanimaax, if around Rupert it's Smalgyax, but to me that word looks like Musgamagw, which is Kwak'wala; it could be from another Northern Wakashan language related to Kwak'wala, perhaps Heiltsuk?Skookum1 (talk) 22:34, 23 October 2008 (UTC)

Cinnamon bears inland
I'm from the Lillooet Country and cinnamon, blond and near-white bears are fairly common; Iv'e not heard of them in the upper Lillooet River valley, which accesses the coast at Toba Inlet over a pass near Mount Meager. Again, "genetic variation" is supposed to explain their colouration, but I've never heard them mentioned as being part of the Kermode subspecies, despite the physical proximity. Any zoologists out there know anything about this?Skookum1 (talk) 22:42, 23 October 2008 (UTC)

It is unclear from the document whether this is a subspecies, species or morph. Please clarify. —Preceding unsigned comment added by SombreGreenbul (talk • contribs) 16:18, 17 June 2010 (UTC)

Pronunciation?
The summery at the top of the page states that kerr-MO-dee is the standard latin pronunciation, but the description section says that KER-mode is correct, that kerr-MO-dee is wrong, and that 'Kermode' does not derive from latin. Which one is right? 24.63.250.207 (talk) 17:42, 4 January 2015 (UTC)


 * Kermode is a name of Manx origin.--ServeDotty (talk) 10:36, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

External links modified
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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20110716115927/http://www.spiritbear.com/site/wildlife/spirit_bears.html to http://www.spiritbear.com/site/wildlife/spirit_bears.html
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20120429030724/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20111104/canada-039039-spirit-bears-039-threatened-proposed-oil-pipeline.htm to http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20111104/canada-039039-spirit-bears-039-threatened-proposed-oil-pipeline.htm
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Conservation Status?
Hello, Not an expert, so could be wrong, but should we add the conservation status of the Kermode Bear? I couldn't seem to find one online, which is probably because it's a subspecies and not a species - could somebody confirm this for me?

Thanks! Prongs95 (talk) 15:08, 29 November 2017 (UTC)


 * The area is covered by the 2016 Great Bear Rainforest Land Use Order and Great Bear Rainforest (Forest Management) Act will conserve 85% of the forest and 70% of old growth over time, achieving a high level of ecological integrity. And, there are attempts being made to turn their habitat into and Indigenous Protected Area. --ServeDotty (talk) 14:56, 15 September 2020 (UTC)

Neutrality of Conservation section
The section is tagged but I see no discussion here of its neutrality?? Irish Melkite (talk) 18:17, 9 May 2020 (UTC)


 * Just got rid of it. Lack of discussion and explanation is when that template should be removed

NuclearElevator (talk) 09:12, 10 June 2020 (UTC)

Rename page to "Spirit bear"
The term more common to BC should be used due to strong national ties. NuclearElevator (talk) 09:01, 10 June 2020 (UTC)


 * I definitely agree with this. It really escapes me why they should have been named Kermode bears in the first place. --ServeDotty (talk) 10:38, 14 September 2020 (UTC)
 * Done. Not sure which instances of 'Kermode bear' in the body should be changed though. Does 'spirit bear' mean all Ursus americanus kermodei or just the white ones? NuclearElevator (talk) 06:23, 25 June 2024 (UTC)

why are all the pictures of white bears?
the article says that most Kermode bears are black, while 100 to 500 are white, including 10 to 20% on three islands, but the page shows only three pictures, with a total of four bears, all of which are white.

another issue skewing toward the white bears is that we're given a range of the number of white bears but not told the total estimated population, or what percentage are white outside those three islands on which we're told told they are common.

either Wikipedia should create a separate page, "spirit bears," or limit reporting on them to one section, even if, as seems evident, people are overwhelmingly interested in the spirit bears and not in the Kermode subspecies of black. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:701:C002:FD40:61F2:95BF:2F3E:C026 (talk) 17:43, 8 August 2020 (UTC)


 * The copyright-compliant images at Commons are somewhat limited: . Perhaps you have some image(s) of black bears that you'd be happy to make available, copyright free? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 17:47, 8 August 2020 (UTC)


 * "Spirit bears aka Kermode bears (Ursus americanus kermodei) are a subspecies of the North American black bear with a rare recessive gene that makes their fur white or cream."
 * "Neither albino nor polar bear, the spirit bear (also known as the Kermode bear) is a white variant of the North American black bear, and it's found almost exclusively here in the Great Bear Rainforest."


 * It does seem that the Kermode bear is the spirit bear, and is white. Thus there would not be any black Kermode bears. Though I could be wrong.

--ServeDotty (talk) 10:28, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

"Frank Kermode"
Wasn't the curator named Francis Kermode as it is stated in Mount Kermode?-- U. M. Owen (talk) 23:01, 5 June 2023 (UTC)