What does the Kermode bear (Ursus americanus kermodei) have in common with red haired-humans? Its cream-colored fur—sported by about 1/10 of the population—is due to a recessive MC1R gene, the same gene associated with red hair in humans! The Kermode bear is a unique subspecies of the North American black bear that can be spotted in British Columbia. While these bears are sometimes mistakenly thought to be albino, they have dark paws and dark noses. Photo: Maximilian Helm, CC BY 2.0, flickr
