Trio of Bear Cubs Exhibit Total 'Stranger Danger' at Sight of Grizzlies Near Watering Hole

As the summer stretches on, we’re all looking for ways to beat the heat—and that includes our animal neighbors, like this family of brown bears who were happy to plunge into a local watering holes—that is, until they noticed that it was already occupied.

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For the brown (also known as grizzly) bear cubs in this video clip, their attempt to go swimming in this Alaskan body of water was thwarted when they noticed another mother and her cub crouched behind a dock.

Related: Alaskan Woman Captures Precious Moment Bear Cub Cries to Mom

All of a sudden, the three babies huddled together, standing their hind feet and peering fearfully past one another as they seemed uncertain of their next steps. You can almost hear them saying, “Are you going in?” “You first.”

The wildlife photographer who caught this charming interaction wrote, “Little brown bear cubs of the year are naturally fearful of other bears, but their mother must take them into crowded areas to fish or access other rich food sources. The more dominant the mother, the further into the fray she’ll take the cubs.”

In the case of these bear cubs, it is lucky the bears they ran into was another mother with her cub, as adult male bears are often aggressive to strange cubs and have even been known to attack and kill them. In this case, everyone is just being reasonably cautious and trying to give each other space.

Bear Cubs and Their Mama

Brown bears usually give birth to between one and three cubs at a time, during the winter hibernation. When born they are barely the size of chipmunks, but they grow quickly and by the time spring comes, they are more than ready to venture out into the world and learn the skills of becoming a bear. Baby bear cubs stay with their mother for two or three years, growing and learning how to hunt and forage on their own. The mother bear will not mate again in this time.

As adults, brown bears lead largely solitary lives, with the only association being as cubs with their mother and each other, and during mating. So the camaraderie seen in this clip is actually short-lived, and though these cubs may be cordial to each other if they happen upon the same food resource in later years, they are unlikely to hang out together, long-term.

It’s a good lesson for all families. Make those memories while you still can.

Bears and Water

One thing about bears is that they love to swim. During hot summer months, they will find a body of water and just relax in it, whether it’s a large pond or river like this one, a small stream, or even a simple tub. Bears have been known to invade backyard pools, and even take naps while lying in streams.

Additionally, water serves as a vital hunting ground for bears, especially the fish-rich rivers and streams of the Alaskan wilderness. Teaching her cubs how to fish is an important skillset for mama bears to impart upon her children. However, bears are in fact omnivorous and will eat anything from plants and berries to carrion to small animals, fish, and of course—human trash. As Alaskan grizzlies can eat up to eighty or ninety pounds of food a day, making sure they know how to forage and find enough is vital.

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