Glacier bears are an Alaskan subspecies of the American black bear. Glacier bears have a rare dark grayish-blue fur. Some glacier bears live in the same areas as black bears. A glacier bear and a black bear can mate and produce cubs. Studies show that the allele for black fur is dominant and the allele for gray-blue fur is recessive. Male bears may travel long distances to find mates. Why do bears need to seek out mates to reproduce? What process must occur prior to reproducing? What is formed during this process and how is it used to produce offspring?