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Cindy Wheeler | profile | all galleries >> Spirit bears, or Kermode bears, BC, Canada Sep 2008 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Spirit bears, or Kermode bears, BC, Canada Sep 2008

A spirit bear, or Kermode bear, is a subspecies of the American Black Bear. These particular black bears carry a recessive gene that cause a small percentage of their offspring to have these white or cream colored coats. They are not albino and they are not polar bears.

I took a photography workshop (shootthelight.com) and we got right where the action was. I was told by a couple of people that the spirit bears are very rare and we wouldn't get to see the them but our luck (and the weather) held out. Beautiful sunny days and 2 spirit bears (3 sightings of the 2), black bears, humpback whales, many very shy harbor seals (no pictures), 3 types of salmon, eagles, a mink and pine martens. We stayed on a 71' sailboat, Ocean Light II, and went ashore at various places in the rain forest in B.C. What a fun, productive trip.

I hope you enjoy the images.
Spirit Bear (a sub-species of the black bear) in BC, Canada
Spirit Bear (a sub-species of the black bear) in BC, Canada		 Prince Rupert where we caught the float plane.
Prince Rupert where we caught the float plane.		 The boat. If you look closely you can see Jenn waving.
The boat. If you look closely you can see Jenn waving.		 Fish tail (pink salmon)
Fish tail (pink salmon)
Juvenile bald eagle
Juvenile bald eagle		 This was the second day and we saw this one from the boat.
This was the second day and we saw this one from the boat.		 (not a very good shot) of a spider web dripping with dew.
(not a very good shot) of a spider web dripping with dew.		 Heads and Tails (Pink Salmon)
Heads and Tails (Pink Salmon)
Isn't this guy cool. Look at his blonde face. Giving us the eye.
Isn't this guy cool. Look at his blonde face. Giving us the eye.		 Spirit Bear - look at his white toe nails. The logs make him look small but he's a big bear.
Spirit Bear - look at his white toe nails. The logs make him look small but he's a big bear.		 Spirit bear. He looks so cute when he's looking in the water for the salmon.
Spirit bear. He looks so cute when he's looking in the water for the salmon.		 Spirit bear. Someone saw this and asked if he was pooping. No! He's eating. You can see the fish head under his left paw.
Spirit bear. Someone saw this and asked if he was pooping. No! He's eating. You can see the fish head under his left paw.
Spirit bear Love the bottom of his foot.
Spirit bear Love the bottom of his foot.		 Spirit bear. He's caught another fish already
Spirit bear. He's caught another fish already		 He's catching another one! He chased it and had to run under the tree to catch it.
He's catching another one! He chased it and had to run under the tree to catch it.		 This is the last I saw of him. He headed off in the woods after this shot.
This is the last I saw of him. He headed off in the woods after this shot.
We saw this coast guard boat one evening. It sure was lit up.
We saw this coast guard boat one evening. It sure was lit up.		 Pine marten
Pine marten		 Do you see the salmon he's trying to catch?
Do you see the salmon he's trying to catch?		 Standing on a pretty small rock.
Standing on a pretty small rock.
Still fishing
Still fishing		 The water doesn't soak into their fur so it just flies right off when they shake.
The water doesn't soak into their fur so it just flies right off when they shake.		 IMG_20903504 x 2336.jpg
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You can see the salmon right under his right paw. He missed it.
You can see the salmon right under his right paw. He missed it.		 He's a beautiful bear
He's a beautiful bear		 Catching a fish
Catching a fish		 Salmon. I was told they get those upper teeth and the hump on their back when it's time to spawn.
Salmon. I was told they get those upper teeth and the hump on their back when it's time to spawn.
Skinning the fish
Skinning the fish		 IMG_32093504 x 2336.jpg
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Guest 25-Jul-2009 05:01
Great photo's of our region. I live in Prince Rupert, just heard the eagles calling. I have lived in this region 45 years and have only seen a Kermode once.
Barry Ailetcher 05-Oct-2008 03:33
Fantastic Gallery very well shot
Frank Comisar 05-Oct-2008 03:11
Outstanding gallery. Obviously you had a fantastic experience. I was lucky enough to go to Katmaai national park in Alaska this past July.
Carla Mitroff 01-Oct-2008 16:23
Should have signed in when I made that last post so you knew who is was, sorry. Great job! What a beautiful place.
Guest 01-Oct-2008 16:19
These are so beautiful Cindy! What a fabulous trip! I can see why you wanted to go now.
Guest 28-Sep-2008 16:07
Hello Cindy,

Your images look wonderful, and as always it was a pleasure seeing you again. Having chosen the right time and places to look for Spirit bears greatly increased our odds of locating them. It was a highly enjoyable and productive workshop.

Chas www.shootthelight.com
Guest 27-Sep-2008 16:08
The spirit bears are wonderful. I have never heard of them. Thanks for sharing these images with the rest of us.
--Shawn
Eric 25-Sep-2008 03:05
Terrific work, it is always a pleasure to view your galleries!

Eric
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