I really love bears, I resonate with these big guys a lot, but I think many people seem them as basic animals when they're MUCH more than that, if you're feeling sad, I hope my bear facts will help you even a little :)
I'll be making a post daily or weekly about a separate bear species, today I'll start with my favorite bear subspecies/coat !! The unheard of glacier black bears ^^
These adorable fluff babies are found in the southern region of europe, more particularly in northern Southeast Alaska and southern Yukon. They were discovered in 1895, and since then they've gotten a few studies
Through genetic testing, their DNA proved they belong to the regular american black bear specied and are likely caused by a recessive gene ^^
The mutation causing the glacier bear's blue or rather greyish shade is genetically more complex and distinct from the white coat mutation in columbia's spirit bears ! (Scientifically known as kermode bears, I will attach a photo at the end but a separate post will be made about it too ;] )
To make it simple, the gene affecting their fur color is likely a recessive one that causes lack of pigmentation at birth, sort of like leucism in a way. This fur coat though, helps them blend with with the rocky mountains they are mostly seen at, it serves as a camouflage :>
● those are the spirit bears, aka kermode bears !
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1) I'm always surprised when new species of this size have been found so recently. I get that smaller fauna can be harder to see in the natural. But a whole new bear in the 80's lol?? (Could it be that their mutation is 'recent'??)
2) Their name is fascinating! A type of BLACK bear with a GLACIER coat. Sounds like a contradiction but it still fits.
3) I searched them in Inaturalist.org and there is only one sighting in Alaska on the "Glacier Bay National Park". The photo is really good!
I hope you keep posting these!!
1) AH! Actually I swapped the numbers by mistake while writing, it's actually 1895!! I guess you could still consider that recent though knowing their origins, it's estimated that their coloration has appeared during the last ice age or towards the end of it! The most common theory is that part of the black bear populations were cut off from the test in southern Europe, and the mutation sparked there as a way of camouflage and adaptation to the mountain area :]
2) I KNOW I FIND THEM SO COOL! I saw some people also call them glacier blue bears !
3) yeah I've only found a few photos of them too, i guess since ts most likely a recessive gene it's rare to find, and ty i will keep you guys updated on the new species! I might also post a few stuff about their behaviour and anatomy :3
The Kermode bear on the tree is cute!!
(づ￣ ³￣)づ
IKR?? Black bears are so adorable when they're on trees
kermode bears are so cute hello???! id probably try to pet one and get killed but at least it would be worth it
They're technically a sub species of black bears allas they're not as dangerous as grizzlies and polar bears, I reckon you might get away with a quick hug if you feed them like Americans do with regular black bears
OH that’s an interesting fact now… yeah if they were as dangerous as polar bears id just immediately get sliced off
I would risk it...