[press release]
Face to face with four of Canada’s most formidable predators
New stamps feature extreme close-ups of native bears

Unfortunately, some populations are threatened by habitat loss and human activity – making conservation efforts critical to their survival. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed polar bears and western populations of the grizzly bear as being of special concern. Polar bears are affected significantly by the loss of sea ice due to climate change, while grizzlies are dwindling in number due to human encroachment.

These are the four bears on the stamps:

• The grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) gets its name from the lighter tips that often appear on its guard hairs, which gives it a grizzled appearance. [shown right]
• The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is, on average, the largest bear species in the world and actually has black skin.
• Named after its most common colour, the American black bear (Ursus americanus) is the most widely distributed bear species in North America.
• Found in coastal regions of British Columbia, the Kermode bear (also Ursus americanus) is a population of black bears capable of producing rare, white-coloured offspring. [shown right]

With more than 30 years as a professional photographer, Ottawa-based Valberg is a Nikon Ambassador and one of two inaugural Canadian Geographic photographers-in-residence. Postma, who lives in Yukon, has travelled around the world for more than 20 years capturing award-winning images.

The stamp issue, designed by Andrew Perro and printed by Lowe-Martin, is available in a booklet of eight stamps and as a pane of four. The Official First Day Cover is cancelled in Klemtu, B.C., home of the Tsimshian First Nations – for whom white-coloured Kermode bears hold special meaning. [The black bear stamp is shown on the right.

[Just so no one is left out, here is the Polar Bear stamp design: [The link directly to the Bears stamps is here.] Here is the press sheet for this issue: Here is the Official First Day Covers: Here is the pane of stamps: Here is the booklet version: