So if you want to see a spirit bear, youd better go to canada. On the central coast of british columbia in the great bear rainforest, there lives a creature of legend. Spirit bear facts province of british columbia news archive. Bear, family ursidae, any of eight species of large shorttailed carnivore s found in the americas, europe, and asia. K is for kermode spirit bear facts, british columbia, canada. Is it time to stand tall and face potential threats without fear. Cole is profoundly moved by the bears peacefulness. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. Spirit bear is a more recent name for the white bear. It is the worlds largest intact temperate rainforest. Any colour it has comes from dirt picked up while walking and fishing.
This bear book for kids mixes facts, photos and even includes a video clip section. His popular novels include touching spirit bear, petey, and tree girl. What follows is a tale of justice and redemption in the wilderness of an island. Search for grizzly bears, black bears, and spirit bears in pristine river valleys. The book explores the folklore and beliefs of native american people. A male polar bear can measure up to 10 feet long and weigh 1,500 lbs. The boy is mauled and then healed by the touch of the spirit bear who is perhaps a reflection of the worldspirit or god. These bears are omnivores which means they will eat many different things. Follow the white kermode spirit bear through the great bear rainforest, find facts about bcspiritbear,spirit bears,kermode bears,white bears,black bears,live stream hibernating spirit bear,rare videos of spirit bears,rare videos of hibernating spirit bear apollo,only videos of hibernating white kermode spirit bear,from great bear rainforest of bcs northwest coast,kermode bear sighting. Less than 400 of these rare bears exist, and their largest numbers are found in the great bear rainforest. A kermode bear is easily recognized by its white fur.
What are all the animals in touching spirit bear answers. The bear is not albino, as it typically has a brown nose and eyes. This earth month, weve learned about all the different types of bears that call the great bear rainforest home. Bear, as a spirit, totem, and power animal, can help. Its the same genetic mutation that gives humans red hair. Interestingly enough, this bear, which is better known as the spirit bear, is considered to be a subspecies of the black bear. Discover what turns a black bear white and 10 more amazing facts about the spirit bear, also known as the ghost bear or the kermode bear. Neither albino nor polar bear, the spirit bear also known as the kermode bear is. Some black bears are born white and are called spirit bears. The author of touching spirit bear is ben mikaelsen. He is accompanied by two men of tlingit indian origin, named edwin and garvey, who are instructing him on. In the light of day, the spirit bear is a special species of black bear known only to a select few that live in the british columbia area as well as a handful of islands near alaska. Most spirit bears live on princess royal and gribbell islands along the rainforest coast of british columbia.
Kermode bears are found on coastal islands in british columbia, canada. Spirit bears, like most black bears, are omnivores. Spirit bears are rare black bears with white or creamy fur, brown eyes, dark nose pads, and nearly white claws. His novels, rescue josh mcguire, petey and touching spirit bear have also been optioned for screen use. However, the american black bear is the worlds most common bear species. The author of toucing spirit bear is ben mikaelsen. Certain bears in russia have become addicted to sniffing jet fuel out of discarded barrels. Three of the senses of the bear smell, sight and hearing are excellent. White bear or ghost bear is often used by local folks.
These bears live in coastal rainforests on the islands off british columbia s coast. Prior to hibernation bears add four inches of fat, gaining two to three pounds a day. The bear knows the land well, and it knows where to go to get what it wants. He began his writing career in the mid1980s and won such literary honors as the international reading association award and the western writers golden spur award. Ailuropoda melanoleuca giant panda, helarctos malayanus sun bear, melursus ursinus sloth bear, tremarctos ornatus spectacled bear, ursus americanus american black bear, ursus arctos brown bear, ursus maritimus polar bear and ursus thibetanus asiatic black bear. Choose from 252 different sets of spirit bear 10 facts flashcards on quizlet. We post about health, celebspeople, places, animals, history information and much more.
His novels have been carried by scholastic and troll book fairs, and are recorded on unabridged audio tape with recorded books. Check out the first ever book written on the white spirit bear written by the venerable tess tessier. Like most black bears, the spirit bear only weighs about half a pound at birth, growing to 150300 pounds when fully grown. A while after the attack, the spirit bear tamely approaches and comes within inches of coles face. Dedication thisbookisdedicatedtobuffy, asevenhundredpoundblackbearwho hasbecomemyownspiritbear. Approximately 10 percent of their population has completely white colored fur. Learn spirit bear 10 facts with free interactive flashcards. Bears ursus species are large, fourlegged mammals that have a unique status in pop culture.
Most spirit bears live on princess royal and gribbell islands along the. Peter is targeted, and cole must deal with his anger once again. In the last few chapters of the book, they take on a bigger role and are portrayed as truly desperate in their. Cubs are known to groan loudly when they lose their mothers. Kermode bear facts the spirit bear is also called the kermode bear. A book about mistakes, and anger, healing and forgiveness. He was one of the first people to see the white bear. Going as far as stalking helicopters for the drops of fuel they leave behind. Polar bears can smell their prey on the ice 20 miles away.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Edwin and garvey come to check on cole, and find him close to death, with mosquitoes and decay all around him. Spirit bear although an animal, the spirit bear is a truly central character in this novel. Ben moved to the united states of america in when he was in seventh grade.
The bear spirit animal spends most of its time alone, hunting and walking through the forest. Spirit bears are rare black bears with white or creamy fur, brown eyes, dark nose. Spirit bear facts questions and study guide quizlet. Buy a cheap copy of ghost of spirit bear book by ben mikaelsen. The bear spirit animal a complete guide to meaning and. Ben mikaelsen born december 8, 1952 is a bolivian american writer of childrens literature.
Bear teaches you to trust your instincts and let go of all that blocks your path. Hetaughtmetobegentleand thati,too,ampartof thecircle. Spirit bear lodge is indigenous owned, offering exclusive access to wildlife viewing areas and cultural sites within the kitasoo xaixais traditional territory. The main guy is a boy who has anger issues and ends up beating a friend severely. In his napra nautilus awardwinning novel touching spirit bear, author ben mikaelson delivers a poignant comingofage story of a boy who must overcome the effects that violence has had on his life. Do you need some rest and relaxation, or has life lost a bit of its sweetness. He burns down his shelter and gets into a fight with spirit bear when he first comes to the islandjust because he can. I have read the book, and the spirit bear appears in all different parts of the story, which adding them all up, the spirit bear appears in the book about 47 times total. They share the same characteristics as other black bears except that they have white or creamy fur, brown eyes, dark nose pads, and nearly white claws. He was the owner of a 750pound black bear named buffy.
Spot whales, porpoise, sea lions, and much more while exploring the. Kermode bear, named after francis kermodei, former director of the royal b. A spirit bear is not real so it doesnt have a food chain. One variation of the black bear is a white bear called the kermode, ghost, or spirit bear. A spirit bear in canadas great bear rainforest in british columbia. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. Some of the main themes are to treat others with respect, you always have redemption for your mistakes, and that you cant change the circle of life. It knows where to find the nutrients that it needs for sustenance before hibernation. Dec 14, 2016 here are 30 kickass and interesting bear facts.
A member of a family of danish descent, he was raised in bolivia and the united states. The rare spirit bear is known locally by several names. The greatest concentration of spirit bears are found on the central coast and north coast of british columbia, canada, but have been documented in. When people in our community began to notice patterns such as salmon declines and bears moving to islands, we teamed up with conservation scientists and created the spirit bear research foundation.
The beautiful spirit bear will eat almost anything. Native americans believed these white bears had supernatural power. Touching spirit bear was written by ben mikaelsen in 2001. Neither albino nor polar bear, the spirit bear also known as the kermode bear is a white variant of the north american black bear, and its found almost exclusively here in the great bear. Seldom interacting with humans, these rare white black bears have lived peacefully for centuries in the pristine environment of princess royal island and. The kermode or spirit bear is a black bear that has white fur due to a rare genetic trait. Ghost of spirit bear, harpercollins books, 2008 cole and peter begin high school together, facing gangs and bullies. He learned both english and spanish as a child, but the bolivian children often mocked his. Have you ever heard of the kermode bear, also known as the spirit. The spirit bear research foundation was born of this history and the necessity to understand how the ecosystem is changing. Amazing facts, photos and video links to some of the worlds most lovable animals. Garvey says its pronounced like a towel without the l. Hes unrepentant and even though he is facing serious jail time, his kindly parole officer, a man named garvey, gets him into this native american justice program called circle justice. Spirit bear facts spirit bear by stephanie waymen the rare spirit bear is known locally by several names.
I really liked the information about the spirit bears, as well as the information on the salmon runs in the area. The kermode bear ursus americanus kermodei, also known as the spirit bear particularly in. He makes friends with a massai herder over the radio but soon finds his new friends life is in danger. Life with the brown bears of kamchatka 2003 by charlie russell and maureen enns. Its a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the. They eat berries, nuts, fruits, roots, grasses and other plants, insects, deer and moose fawns. Spirit bears are easily recognized by their white fur, but, contrary to common belief, theyre not.
Spirit bears are found only in the great bear rainforest, a 6. Welcome to the official fanpage for simon jackson and all things spirit bear. What is the book touching spirit bear all about answers. Throughout the book, cole deals with a lot of pentup rage that comes bursting out in the form of violence and crime.
Bear books for children a fun and fascinating way for young readers to find out more about these highly intelligent creatures. Touching spirit bear book report by tyler miller on prezi. His presence on the island is almost mythical since spirit bears are supposed to live somewhere southeast of the island. The kermode bear ursus americanus kermodei, also known as the spirit bear particularly in british columbia, is a rare subspecies of the american black bear living in the central and north coast regions of british columbia, canada.
Touching spirit bear story setting authorbenmikaelsen. At the beginning of the novel, cole matthews, a fifteenyearold juvenile delinquent from minneapolis, minnesota, arrives on a barren island near the city of drake in southeastern alaska in handcuffs. Cole matthews is a teenage delinquent whos in big trouble for beating up a kid named peter driscal. Like black bears, their average life span is about 25 years. Height measured from paw to shoulders averages between 2. This beautiful picture book is stuffed with facts and information on the wildlife and plant life found in the great northern rainforest of western canada. Theme touching spirit bear book report there are many themes to this book. While most kermode bears are black, there are between 100 and 500 fully white individuals. Polar bears can swim for up to 60 miles without a break. It is the official provincial mammal of british columbia. Bens articles and photos have appeared in numerous magazines around the world.
At fifteen, cole matthews faced a prison sentence for slamming another. Spirit bear and great bear rainforest books white spirit bear by gramma tess. Named after frank kermode, former director of the royal b. The kermode spirit bear is a white variant of the north american black bear, prominently found on coastal islands in british columbia, and the great bear rainforest, which runs 250 miles down along canadas western coast of b. The kermode bear, known as the spirit bear is a rare white furred. The sun bear helarctos malayanus is the smallest, often weighing less than 50 kg 110 pounds, and the largest is a subspecies of alaskan brown bear called the kodiak bear ursus arctos middendorffi.
You are being encouraged to enjoy the journey and delight in the sweetness of life. This book tells the story of the unusual and beautiful creatures that inhabit ancient rainforests on the northwest coast of british columbia. Just like a black bear, a kermodes nose and paws are dark brown or black, so it is incorrect to call a kermode an albino. As i mentioned, the spirit bear is actually a white black bear. The kermode bear is a unique subspecies of the american black bear. After severely injuring peter driscal in an empty parking lot, mischiefmaker cole matthews is in major trouble. The wishing bear 2006 by jennifer dziekan includes a list of bear facts from the north american bear center. Feb 10, 2015 discover how the spirit bear lodge operated by the kitasooxaixai nation is revitalizing their community and demonstrating how sustainable practices can succeed economically, environmentally.
Touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen booksamillion. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Of the 8 species of bears, the polar bear is mostly carnivorous, the giant panda feeds almost entirely on bamboo and the remaining six species are omnivorous with varied diets. The spirit bear is the native american term for the kermode bear, a subspecies of the american black bear found on the.
Touching spirit bear study guide contains a biography of ben mikaelsen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. I painted the spirit bear when i was in kindergarten and my librarian got robert bateman to sign it and paint his own spirit bear beside it, now its worth money but id never. Spirit bears are easily recognized by their white fur, but, contrary to common belief, theyre not albinostheyre actually a rare subspecies of the black bear, born with a genetic mutation that gives them white coats. Cole was mad in the beginning because the spirit bear wasnt affraid of him. Cole reaches out to touch the bear and grabs a tuft of white hair from its back. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Their scientific name is ursus americanus kermodeii. The kind of pristine rainforests the kermode prefers is pretty rare. Spirit bear learn about the spirit bear known in native american culture. Found in a variety of environments from arctic ice pack to tropical forests, bears live on every continent except antarctica. Since they have their own classification, they will now become one of the animal facts. The worlds most widely distributed bear is the brown bear.
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