The American black bear is a common sight in North America, and has many synonyms such as Ursus americanus, cinnamon bear, Kermode bear, and the spirit bear. The Ursus americanus is considered the scientific classification for the species, while cinnamon bear is used to describe subspecies with a reddish-brown coat and Kermode bear refers to a unique subspecies found in British Columbia with a white or cream-colored coat. The spirit bear, also known as the Kermode bear, is held in special regard by the indigenous people of British Columbia and is considered a symbol of power, strength, and harmony with nature.