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Are spirit bears protected?
Spirit bears, also known as Kermode bears, are among the world’s rarest ursines, found only in the remote archipelago of British Columbia’s central coast. The British Columbian government estimates there are 400 spirit bears in the province, and hunting them is illegal.
Is it illegal to shoot a spirit bear?
So while it is illegal to kill a spirit bear, hunters may shoot a black bear that carries the crucial gene.
What is the importance of the spirit bears habitat?
Ecology. Like most coastal bears, spirit bears play an important role in coastal ecosystems as they bring salmon from rivers into the forest to eat. The leftover remains of the salmon are then available for other animals that eat salmon (e.g. eagles, minks, etc.)
Can bears be red?
In some regions, black bears are more commonly various shades of brown. But a black bear can even be red, white or blue. Seriously. Unusually colored bears have long been the subject of legend and folklore.
Are Spirit Bears protected in BC?
Urgently, about half of spirit bear hotspots fall outside of British Columbia protected areas, making their habitats vulnerable to logging, mining and drilling projects. Spirit bears are white-coated black bears that inherit their pale fur from a rare recessive gene.
Why are spirit bears so good at fishing?
While this benefit is not limited to spirit bears, research by University of Victoria scientists found because of their white color, spirit bears have a unique advantage over black bears when catching salmon since they blend into the daylight.
Is it legal to hunt Black Bears in protected areas?
For example, even in protected areas – which the study showed are out of sync with spirit bear hot spots – it is still legal to hunt black bears. While hunting white bears is prohibited, black bears can carry the recessive gene that produces spirit bears and is essential to the population’s survival.
Why do spirit bears have white coats?
So it’s actually the same gene that controls the white coat in spirit bears as redheads and red hair in humans. And so they have the same pigment [as black bears]. But as Doug said, shockingly, in this forest, in this ecosystem, they’re pure white from tip to tail.” In our culture, our elders have always said everything is connected.