-Bears sure like eating the cambium layer of various pines and fir trees etc. Typically find this type of damage early in the year (May and June). They certainly kill the trees when they girdle them all the way around.
-Captured a couple of pictures of blond bears a few years ago. The blond ones seem more secretive to me than cinnamon and black color phase bears. Would like to meet up with one some day during hunting season.
Enjoy!