How did the spirit bear get its name?
This bear is named after Francis Kermode, a provincial museum worker who was among the first to discover the furry fellows.
What is the spirit bears real name?
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.
What is the story behind the spirit bear?
One story describes Raven creating spirit bears as a reminder of the last ice age that previously covered its habitat with ice and snow. In modern times, spirit bears are becoming an important focal species for Indigenous-owned ecotourism.
How many spirit bears are there?
Current population estimates are under review and vary from 50 to 150 individuals. This elusive animal is only found in a small portion of the Great Bear Rainforest. Kitasoo/Xai’xais territory is home to the largest proportion of the spirit bear population and the only Spirit Bear conservancy.
What is a spirit bear in the book Touching spirit bear?
The spirit bear is actually a subspecies of a black bear. They are called Kermode Bears after the man who studied them. They are NOT a form of polar bear; their white color comes from a recessive gene having to do with hair color. Cole Matthews is actually fighting a species of bear.
Do Spirit bears exist?
Spirit bears are rare white-coated black bears (Ursus americanus kermodei) that live in the coastal temperate rainforests of Northwest British Columbia. Their striking colour is caused by an uncommon recessive genetic trait.
What does a spirit bear symbolize?
In Native American cultures, animal totems hold the protective powers of the animal they represent. Thus, the bear totem is a helpful symbol for manifesting more courage, strength, and protection in your life. In addition, the bear totem is a helpful symbol to remind yourself that are lovable, cuddly, and caring.
How are spirit bears white?
The white fur of Kermode bears is the result of a double recessive gene unique to this subspecies. A single nucleotide replacement in the melanocortin-1 (Mc-1r) receptor portion of that gene causes it to produce adenine rather than guanine. When both parents contribute this recessive gene, the result is white fur.
When was the book spirit bear made?
Touching Spirit Bear (Spirit Bear, 1) Hardcover – January 9, 2001. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Do spirit bears exist?
What does a Spirit Bear symbolize?
What kind of Bear is the spirit bear?
This bear may belong to the black bear family, but it is ”pure white and has pride, dignity, and honor.” Though most Spirit Bears live off the coast of British Columbia, one ”massive” bear has managed to find its way to the Alaskan island Cole will inhabit.
Who are the characters in Touching Spirit Bear?
Touching Spirit Bear Summary. At the beginning of the novel, Cole Matthews, a fifteen-year-old juvenile delinquent from Minneapolis, Minnesota, arrives on a barren island near the city of Drake in Southeastern Alaska in handcuffs. He is accompanied by two men of Tlingit Indian origin, named Edwin and Garvey, who are instructing him on…
Where does the book Touching Spirit Bear take place?
Touching Spirit Bear Summary At the beginning of the novel, Cole Matthews, a fifteen-year-old juvenile delinquent from Minneapolis, Minnesota, arrives on a barren island near the city of Drake in Southeastern Alaska in handcuffs.
How old is Cole Matthews in Touching Spirit Bear?
Touching Spirit Bear Summary. At the beginning of the novel, Cole Matthews, a fifteen-year-old juvenile delinquent from Minneapolis, Minnesota, arrives on a barren island near the city of Drake in Southeastern Alaska in handcuffs.