Unusual Black Bear

[iluvguns]

This bear was recently hit on # 11 highway in the Qu’Appelle Valley near Lumsden Sk. I have never seen one with this very distinct blonde stripe down it’s back. It would have been nice if this hide could have been rescued.
I thought this hide would be of interest to some of you. Makes one wonder if the bears and skunks have a thing going between them 🤔

[roper1]

Nature full of cool surprises!

[Geraldsh]

His disguise as a highway centreline didn’t work very well.

[Pathfinder76]

Those are just guard hairs that haven’t been shed.

[270person]

Too much red wine and still passed out when the line painter truck came by.

Totally bizarre that there are black bears in the Qu'appelle Valley near Lumsden now. 17 miles from Regina. There were zero in the 60's and 70's. Mind you there were no moose or elk in South Sask either outside of a park or two.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

Those are just guard hairs that haven’t been shed.

Maybe....

I have a hide from a bear we shot in the backyard when living outside of Penticton.
A blonde with an even lighter blonde mane.

I've seen several other bears with a distinct mane.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

Maybe....

I have a hide from a bear we shot in the backyard when living outside of Penticton.
A blonde with an even lighter blonde mane.

I've seen several other bears with a distinct mane.

What do you mean maybe? Those are guard hairs. There are more there than just what’s down his back as well. Lol.

[-JR-]

I came across a large brown bear sheep hunting ,it had a perfect white spot on its back about 15 inches around . I thought it was a grizzly as it was making its way up the mountain away from me ,until it turned around to look at me and it was a reg black bear. Almost looked like someone took a spay can of white paint and placed that spot on him .

[Grizzly Adams1]

Nature full of cool surprises!


From a bit of a different perspective, Black bears with white on their chest are relatively common and can be quite extensive.

Grizz

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

Maybe....

I have a hide from a bear we shot in the backyard when living outside of Penticton.
A blonde with an even lighter blonde mane.

I've seen several other bears with a distinct mane.

I have seen 5 different black bears that are just like the one in the picture. All were in southern B.C. 3 in Spences bridge and the other 2 were near Okanagan lake. I know of a few that have been shot and all are from southern region 3 or 8 in B.C. . All from areas with high % of color phase bears.

Not a common color but definitely seems to be present in areas in southern B.C.

We have always called them skunk bears. All the ones I have seen got a pass as they were fairly small

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Geraldsh

His disguise as a highway centreline didn’t work very well.

Threadwinner!

[Talking moose]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

Those are just guard hairs that haven’t been shed.

This.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

What do you mean maybe? Those are guard hairs. There are more there than just what’s down his back as well. Lol.

I meant maybe as a way to be gentle with you....

I'll take it back. You're wrong.
This black bear has a blonde mane.
Unusual, but not unique.

[Lost Arrow]

Today I was driving from Wonowon to Ft St John. A small bear ran across the highway in front of me. It was mostly brown with some areas with a red hue to it. It had the same color in a circular pattern around its shoulders as the bear in the photo. I see a lot of bears up there, that was a first.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

I meant maybe as a way to be gentle with you....

I'll take it back. You're wrong.
This black bear has a blonde mane.
Unusual, but not unique.

You’re a hoot.

I especially like how the “mane” presents itself on his head, shoulders, knees and toes. Lol.