The Great Bear Rainforest is said to be home to restless spirits — spirit BEARS, to be precise. Also known as Kermode bears, their thick white coats come from a rare recessive gene within certain black bear populations of the Pacific Northwest. Their continued existence owes much to the stewardship of First Nations, who have long regarded these bears as sacred and protected them, even through the height of the fur trade. They are among the many extraordinary animals that make this region so distinctive, and so deserving of care for generations to come. Video by paulnicklen #SpiritBear #Salmon #ExploreBC #Explore