Be careful not to confuse it with the polar bear. The Kermode bear (Ursus americanus kermodei) is a subspecies of the black bear. This animal lives in British Columbia, a province located on the west coast of Canada. The Kermode bear can be black or white. White Kermode bears make up 20% of the species' population. The white color of the Kermode bear is due to leucism, a genetic mutation that impacts the color of the animal's coat. Very rare and important in Native American culture, ours have long benefited from the protection of natives to prevent them from being hunted.