Spirit Bear, Ghost Bear, Kermode Bear…whatever you call these magnificent creatures, opportunities to photograph them in the wild are almost as rare as the animals themselves. In fact...is that a ghost in the woods? In October 2020, Art of Seeing Photography Adventures will return to the Great Bear Rainforest of coastal British Columbia for a wildlife photography adventure of a lifetime. Even in those days, though, taking a white bear was taboo, a tradition that has continued through many generations. They reside only in the pristine environs of the Great Bear Rainforest of coastal British Columbia, the largest temperate rainforest left on the planet. Enjoy these images from past workshops. This is when I visited on both occasions and it paid off – quite simply because it’s the height of the salmon run. Fun Fact: In what was considered a landmark agreement, a major portion of the Great Bear Rainforest, five million acres—almost the size of New Jersey—was declared off-limits to loggers in 2006. Enjoy these images from past workshops. For a few weeks every autumn, waterways team with the spawning and dying fish and it is this surge of food that attracts a host of … They are one of the rarest bears on earth, with perhaps 200 to 400 in existence – no one knows for sure. They reside only in the pristine environs of the Great Bear Rainforest of coastal British Columbia, the largest temperate rainforest left on the planet. In October 2020, Art of Seeing Photography Adventures will return to the Great Bear Rainforest of coastal British Columbia for a wildlife photography adventure of a lifetime. It’s early October and autumn has seemingly arrived overnight in the Great Bear Rainforest. Experience an ancient culture, spectacular wildlife viewing, stunning landscapes and reconnect with nature. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of the area with the group; this made the trip really special. But to the First Nations peoples of the area they are sacred symbols, Ghost Bears, their unique coloration the result of an ancient bargain made with wise Raven to … The best time for wildlife in the Great Bear Rainforest – and really the only time to see spirit bears – is September. In the Great Bear Rainforest, some 500 to 1,200 black bears might be carriers. 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. The BBC filmed the story of how the giant trees of the Great Bear Rainforest are dependent upon bears and salmon for nitrogen in the "Magical Forest" episode of their series "Secrets of Our Living Planet". Everything about Spirit Bears is special. Toggle navigation. The trait is recessive: Both parents must carry a copy of the mutated gene for their offspring to be white. They have pigment in their skin and eyes, which wouldn’t be the case with albinos. The Great Bear Rain Forest is such a beautiful and surreal place. Spirit Bears, aka White Bears or Kermode Bears, are a rare sub-species of the Black Bear. "We never even spoke of the spirit bear at the dinner table," Clifton says. This precious Spirit Bear is only found in the Great Bear Rainforest of Northwestern British Columbia, Canada. Free Online Library: Ghost Bears of the Rainforest: Scientists and native Canadians team up to help the world's rarest bears. Spirit Bear Lodge is Indigenous owned, offering exclusive access to wildlife viewing areas and cultural sites within the Kitasoo Xai’xais traditional territory. (earth science) by "SuperScience"; Science and technology, general Education Family and marriage Black bear Distribution Protection and preservation Canadian native peoples Indigenous peoples Rain forests