We list here what we think are the most 'iconic' wildlife you can see in Canada, Alaska and the Arctic. We detail some interesting facts & figures about each type, plus of course, the best places and times to see them.
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Canada, Alaska & The Arctic
Kermode or spirit bear
The best time to see Kermode bears is in September, when the salmon are spawning. The fish draw the bears down to the rivers from the surrounding forests to gorge themselves before their winter hibernation. Kermode bears are only found in western British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, between Princess Royal Island and Prince Rupert.
We work with an exclusive floating wilderness lodge on Princess Royal Island which makes the perfect base for exploring such a pristine wilderness area. In addition, it is possible to travel by yacht, exploring this spectacular coastline, its wildlife and First Nations culture, over a week or more.
The Kermode bear is also known as the Spirit bear because of its rarity and because a small percentage of them have white coats.
In 1905 the species Ursus Kermodei was named in honour of Francis Kermode, a zoologist who conducted the first studies into the origins of these bears. In 1928, the Kermode bear was reclassified as a subspecies of the American black bear. It is believed that Kermode bears evolved over the last 10,000 years from black bears that became isolated more than 300,000 years ago.
Kermode bears can only be found in what is known as the Great Bear Rainforest, located in the central region of western British Columbia, with the highest concentration being found on Princess Royal Island.
White Kermode bears or Spirit bears are the result of a recessive gene that is carried by approximately ten per cent of Kermode bears. Two bears carrying this gene can produce a white cub. Kermode bears on average weigh about 300 pounds. They may appear white, cream coloured, orange, gold or grey, though most of them are totally black.
Ninety five per cent of the Kermode bears' diet is made up of salmon which is abundant in western B.C. Salmon is particularly important when it comes to the bears' fattening up before hibernation. They also feed on green plants, berries, nuts, and insects.
Just like other black bears, Kermode bears are slow at reproducing. They hibernate in hollowed-out old trees usually from November to March. The mother will give birth to between one and four cubs while still in hibernation. They weigh about 1/2 pound at birth and remain with their mother for about two years.
As a result of habitat loss, logging, mismanagement, and inter-breeding with the mainland black bears that don't carry their unique gene, the Kermode bear is facing eventual extinction. Of an estimated 1,200 Kermode bears, fewer than 200 are white, making these bears an extremely rare and, according to the indigenous First Nations, a considerably auspicious sight.