The rarity of black bears with pure white fur in the wild is 1 in 1 million.
A bear with pure white fur has been spotted wandering in the wilds of the Western Upper Peninsula in Michigan, USA. This individual belongs to the North American black bear species, making it nearly impossible to detect such bears in nature.
Rare all-white bear.
Recently, a hidden camera along a hiking trail in Michigan’s wilderness captured rare footage of a black bear with pure white fur.
Images shared on social media show the bear’s striking white fur, standing out against the green foliage and brown tree bark. According to experts, this is one of the most elusive species in the wild.
The white-furred black bear is not a polar bear and is not related to albinism. The bear was born as a result of a recessive gene mutation that produces white fur from both the father and mother bears, with an occurrence ratio in the wild of 1 in 1,000,000.
Cody Norton, a wildlife expert working for the local Department of Natural Resources, stated: “It’s fascinating to see a white bear appear in this area. The male bear is about 2 years old.”
Locals refer to these bears as divine bears.
White-furred bears are over 35% more successful than black bears at catching salmon. Their white fur is harder for fish to detect underwater compared to black fur, allowing them to catch fish more easily.
According to Canadian wildlife authorities, locals refer to these bears as divine beings respected by indigenous people. They never hunt or disclose their locations to hunters.
Local folklore suggests that if one were to disturb these divine bears, they would face severe consequences.
Divine bears are seen as guardian spirits of the forest, protecting the life that flourishes there. Today, the population of this bear species is estimated to be under 1,000, with only one being cared for in a park in British Columbia, Canada.
