Glacial bear pictures?

[Vince]

Originally Posted by moses42ak

So what is the story of the spirit bear. Can't say that I've ever heard of it.

it is white in color though NOT an albino... and one of the tribes down that way have made it the white buffaloe.

[AKFishOn]

The Spirit Bear: http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Bear-Jr...7223843&sr=8-1

Glacier Bear: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_Bear

What is the difference? They are both black bear, although they have different color phases... I was once at a Sportsmans Show in Syracuse NY and a guide that hunted in Canada less than 400 miles from there had some pictures of a glacier bear, that was as far south as I've heard of them being seen/shot. Not sure how far North but they are predominantly a SE Alaska into North of Cordova color phases in Alaska. But still very uncommon to see one and even less common to harvest one.

[Bfish]

Here's the one in the Juneau airport

P1010263.jpg

[limpalong]

There's what appears to be one at Sportsmans Warehouse in Wasilla.

[skagway]

The glacier bear that is in the Junuea airport is from the Denver valley here in Skagway. We also just relocated a problem glacier bear down the canal a bit. It was a yearling. The sow was shot for being a problem. The cub later entered a house and was determined a nuisance as well. Since it was a true glacier bear color phase, Fish and Game decided to move it rather than destroy it. I was thinking of going after it this spring

[Pupchow]

I know someone who has two in their house in anchorage, both came from southeastern alaska apparently if you have the time and the means (read airplane) to do some diligent scouting it can happen

[swampdonkey]

Originally Posted by Blink

Whats the furthest north anybody has ever heard of or seen a glacial bear?

I had a 5-5 1/2 foot sow w/ that years cub come into my bait station up out of the Sutton area 3 years ago. At first glance from a distance (40-50yds), I thought it was a horribly rubbed bear. Once it got alot closer and after 10 minutes of watching her at 9 yards, I saw every hair on her except the belly hair, and it was without a doubt, a non-rubbed glacier/blue bear. It had a huge silver and black speckled saddle with black head and legs, Kinda looked like a silver back gorilla. Some of the specks went up the back of the neck and a little bit was also on the top of her rump. Prettiest bear I've ever seen. Absolutely flawless coat on her... Only one I've ever seen in the wild, haven't seen her since. Maybe someday...

[Blink]

Thanks swamp

I only ask cuz last year up in Tok I shot a wierd colored blackie. The hair is grayish blue but black tips. I know its not a glacial bear but in 18 years of hunting up there, we havent seen this color phase. I was just curious of the reported range of this colored bear.

Heres a pick of it. In good light the greyish blue really comes out. At first I thought it was just the down hair but its the actual hair. The bear was around 6'1".

[AKFishOn]

Here is the one in the Fairbanks Museum

[alaska viking]

That last one looks more like a cinnimon.

[kingfisherktn]

Originally Posted by alaska viking

That last one looks more like a cinnimon.

Ditto......

[muskeg]

One of the Cinnamons we took this last spring had grey / blue under fur with brown opaque claws ... but ADF&G called it a Cinnamon during sealing.

There have been half dozen or so Glacier Bear taken over in the Misty Fjords. They are the dark variety ... We took one some years back ... it had black head / black legs / black stripe down the dorsal / black guard hair with a very small amount of white guards hairs mixed in / blue grey under fur with grey opaque claws .... ADF&G sealed it as a Glacier / Blue Bear.

[Charles-C]

So what is the story behind glacial bears? Is it some sort of albinism or are they a sub-species or something? I've never heard of them before. Are the brown or black?

[NMiller]

I lived in Terrace, BC for a while, down there they are known as Kermode bears. They are a color phase of black bears. The town landfill was a popular place to go see them, we used to go there and see several at a time. Saw one while salmon fishing once. I think the harvest for them closed in the mid 60's.