White chest blaze on black bears

[AlaskaHunter]

Does the white chest blaze have any relationship to age of bear?
Or is it genetic where some populations it is fairly common, other populations rare?
For example, I not seen a white chest blaze on blackies in interior Alaska.
This bear is from our winter rental near Ronan MT:

 

[2rocky]

There is a theory that it gets smaller with age, that it is a cub recognition tool. But a lot of other species of bears have the chest patch as well.

 

[Sask hunter]

Some have it some don’t must be genetics

 

[gonhunting247]

I'd say genetic also!

 

[Hunting Wife]

FWIW, a bear biologist on MT once told me around 10% of bears in the state have white chevrons. Seems to be genetic.

 

[Dave N]

Idaho bear.

 

[Rack Daniels]

Near Butte, MT