American black bears are evolving to have cinnamon-colored coats, study finds

[Judi Lynn]

By Jennifer Nalewicki published about 16 hours ago
For the past 9,000 years, American black bears have slowly been turning red due to a genetic variant.



An American black bear stands on a rock.

Some American black bears have evolved to have a cinnamon-colored coat. (Image credit: Fluid Media Factory via Getty Images)
Some American black bears in the western United States have evolved to have cinnamon-colored fur. The new hue is likely due to a genetic variant similar to one that causes albinism in humans, a new study finds.

Researchers from the United States and Japan analyzed DNA samples from 151 American black bears (Ursus americanus) across the United States and Canada and found that those residing in western states such as Nevada, Arizona and Idaho were more likely to exhibit reddish-colored coats than the black fur for which the medium-size bears are named.

The researchers identified a mutation known as R153C in a gene called tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), which causes an alteration in the coat's pigmentation that makes its fur the same color as a copper penny.

"TYRP1 is a known pigmentation gene in the pathway in the precursor molecules that ultimately produces either eumelanin (black or brown pigment) or pheomelanin (red or yellow pigment)," Emily Puckett(opens in new tab), the study's lead author and an assistant professor in biological sciences at The University of Memphis in Tennessee told Live Science. "What it's doing is changing the amino-acid sequence of that gene."

More:
https://www.livescience.com/cinnamon-bears-black-bears-genetic-variant

[Walleye]

1. I saw a cinnamon colored bear at a friends ranch in New Mexico, she said it still hangs out there

Beautiful animal I was a little closer to it then was comfortable but she didn’t hurt me, she had a cub with her

[Duppers]

2. GSMNP Bears are still dark black.

At least one huge moma (300-350lb) was last summer. We were driving up to our lot near Townsend and came within feet of a gorgeous dark black one with a glistening shinny coat. Wish I had made a pic.

We could tell she was used to people, unfortunately. She didn't bother to run. The neighborhood there is very tolerant of our bears - but feeding them is a hell-no!

On edit:
This one was spotted back in May in Cades Cove....

[lark]

3. I hiked a lot when I lived in CA and saw many black bears.

I never saw one with reddish fur, so at least 20 years ago, they were uncommon there.

[Wounded Bear]

4. You know, bison do this too, though the fur color changes when they age...

I wonder if this is a reaction to wolf predation, like with the bison, because wolves are partially color blind.

Interesting.

[2naSalit]

5. That's interesting.

Our resource guide, a compilation of information and study findings about most things in the park that we rangers used for our answers to tourists, said that roughly 40-55% of the black bear population in YNP were cinnamon bears. I've seen and photographed several in days in the park but have seen just as many outside the park in the same ecosystem.

I have seen photos of cinnamon bears in the Tahoe area of California too.