Just as National Geographic's cover story on the Spirit Bear appeared on news stands, I was heading west to start exploring the Great Bear Rainforest. The highlight was three rainy days on Princess Royal Island with the Spirit Bear (Ursus americanus kermodei), as well as the more common colour phase of the Black Bear (Ursus americanus). The gene for fur colour is either black or blonde (not albino). Only when the gene from both parents is blonde, will the cub have blonde fur. If the cub has 2 black fur genes, or 1 black and 1 blonde fur gene, it will always have black fur. As a result, only 1 in 4 black bears, on average, in the Great Bear Rainforest, will be a blonde colour. That is why the Spirit Bear is so rare.
