Katmai National Park officials address viral silvery bear cub

A silvery-colored bear cub spotted on the Katmai Bear Cam in Alaska has sparked online speculation regarding whether it is a “grolar” or “pizzly” bear—a hybrid between a grizzly and a polar bear.

However, wildlife officials and naturalists suggest this is unlikely. Gordon Clagget, a spokesperson for the National Park Service Alaska office, stated that the cub’s mother is a brown bear and that the unusual coloring is likely due to genetics. He noted that many bears on the Brooks River possess very blonde fur, which may darken as the animal matures.

Naturalist Mike Fitz from Explore.org added that Katmai National Park is located too far south of the current polar bear range for such cross-breeding to occur. Fitz also observed that the cub does not appear to show signs of leucism or albinism, suggesting the color falls within the natural variation of brown bear fur in the region.