What is an albino black bear?

A true albino black bear has pink eyes and a pink nose and is quite rare. However, some residents of three distinct populations of black bears in Canada display a totally white coat but still retain the brown eyes and nose.

The Kermode bears, also known as spirit bears and ghost bears, live along the coast of British Columbia and are commonly mistaken for albino black bears. The color of the bears is genetically determined and is suspected to be an ancient mutation that is unique to these isolated groups. The condition does not appear in all of the bears, and only about 1 out of every 10 cubs is born with a white coat.