You Think You Know Bears? Think Again

Throughout history, there has been a spiritual connection between humans and bears. There is something about their intelligent eyes, movements, and family dynamic that we find captivating and almost relatable. Yet many of us only understand the superficial: bears eat berries and meat, don’t climb a tree if a bear is chasing you, or that they are wild animals deserving space. Some of us may distinguish them by colour. Brown, black, and even white bears are found in Western Canada. However, they are genetically distinct, each with their own history. Differing landscapes, food sources, and struggles have molded the Black Bear (Ursus americanus), Spirit Bear (Ursus americanus kermodei), and Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) into siblings who share many traits but have led different lives. Each has a story that is a mix of survival and luck.

In the northern parts of Western Canada, Black Bears evolved in the boreal and temperate forests. Their black coats and brown noses blended with the shadows of the woods, and their smaller size was more agile for winding through the undergrowth. A Black Bear can stand on the forest’s edge behind only a veil of undergrowth and be completely invisible. With moderately sized hooked claws they are proficient tree climbers. A mother bear, also called a sow, will protect her cubs by chasing them up a trunk. This is to climb high and away from predators while she protects them from below. Black Bears are not a confrontational species, preferring to hide or run, but if their cubs are threatened mother bears will attack. Today Black Bears can still be found extensively in the boreal forest, snacking on blueberries and swimming in ponds. They are akin to the older sister who is responsible, logical, and conciliatory.

On the west coast of Canada, in the Great Bear Rainforest, lies a ghostly replica of the Black Bear. Spirit Bears have similar claws for climbing trees and a smaller stature, but they roam the lush jungles wearing a white coat. This phenotypic variation stumped biologists, as it did not camouflage the bear against the green, brown, and black of the forest. In fact, the Spirit Bear stood out as an angelic feature on the landscape. The problem was that biologists were looking at the bear from the forest’s perspective, instead of seeing the bear through a salmon’s eyes. From below in a stream, a Spirit Bear’s white fur gave the impression of empty sky or sunlight reflecting on the water’s surface. Salmon did not see a looming shadowy threat and was more likely to swim into a vulnerable position. This provided the Spirit Bear with the opportunity to snatch a fatty and delicious meal. Spirit Bears are the younger sister who takes after her older sister the Black Bear, using the same tools for survival but with a twist to stand apart as an individual.

The Great Plains of Western Canada are primarily occupied by cattle with the occasional herd of mule or whitetail deer. There is a rich ranching history here, and the people are proud of it. Except before ranching became a prominent practice, the land was dominated by one of the biggest and baddest animals of the prairies. The Plains Grizzly ruled these wide, open spaces. There are three physical adaptations that indicate their true historical range: their massive size, incredible strength, and surprising speed. On the plains there was nowhere to hide. Rival males and tasty carcasses could be easily sensed over the exposed landscape, therefore an imposing presence deterred confrontation. In a grizz-on-grizz fight, brawn championed in the fight for resources, and if an escape or pursuit was necessary, the grizzly bear’s top speed of 35 miles an hour made for a runaway train. While impressive, they were still no match for European settlers. The biggest bears were hunted for their furs. The strongest bears were still vulnerable to bullets. The fasted bears could not run from the cities and agriculture that expanded across the prairies. Our anthropocentric colonization drove the Plains Grizzly further into the montane and alpine regions, where they are now simply called grizzly bears. They are like the big older brother whose instinct is to aggressively defend and has had to fight to establish dominance in the family.

Each is worthy of protection and each is worthy of their space. The same practices we preach about labelling people can be applied to wildlife. Don’t categorize others based on their appearance or where they live. Look deeper into the creative adaptations, battles fought, and hardships faced when working to understand them and appreciate the story they have to tell.