Polar Bear Mother Takes In Cub in Infrequently Recorded Case

Researchers tracking free-roaming polar bears in Canada's northern regions observed something exceedingly rare this fall: a mother bear taking in a cub that was not biologically her own.

The half-decade-old maternal bear and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were observed and captured on camera during the annual polar bear journey along the Hudson Bay's western shore near Churchill, Manitoba, an locale renowned for its concentration of Arctic bears.

"It's unusual," stated a researcher with an international bear organization. "The reasons are unclear why it occurs...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

This represents only the thirteenth documented instance of fostering out of nearly five thousand bears studied for nearly five decades in the area.

The female bear was first captured as she came out from her birthing den this spring. Initially, she had one cub, which researchers marked for research.

In the fall, she was seen again, but this time with a pair of cubs - the original cub and another without a tag. Researchers aren't sure what happened to the second cub's biological mother, but they are trying to identify her using DNA analysis.

"These animals need all the help they can get these days with a warming climate," commented a wildlife biologist. "When mother bears have the opportunity to take in an additional youngster and care for it and successfully wean it, it's a good thing for the population."

Polar bears in the wild only have a 50% chance of surviving into adulthood, but having a maternal figure caring for them boosts their odds.

The young bears appear to be in good condition, according to experts, and they will likely remain with their mother until they are about two-and-a-half years old.

Next, the bear family is expected to venture out to the frozen ocean, where the cubs will be taught from their mother how to hunt seals and survive on their own.

"It's just nice to know that the bears are looking out for each other," added the scientist.