Watch: Rare Sight Of Mother Bear Crossing Road With Her Two Cubs

A video of a mother bear crossing the road with her two cubs has taken the internet by storm. The video was shot in Asheville, North Carolina in the USA. It shows the mother bear inspecting the road from the sidelines and waiting for her cubs to reach her side. She then carefully crosses the road and climbs over a roadside railing as two tiny cubs follow her lead. This video was taken by author Julie Sweeney from her car. What makes the video endearing is how people inside the car comment appreciatively at the black bears.

Julie shared this clip on Instagram and wrote, “Honestly, this is how I feel about all of you—gently shepherding your kids across the dangerous highways of life. My friends and I (retired homeschoolers) are on your team! Keep going. We’re rooting for you.” This video has gathered over 25 million news since it was posted on April 7.

Commenting on it, an Instagram user commented, “I cannot tell who is adorable here. Fluffy Bears or lovely women with warmth and kindness!!! Glad I stumbled upon this video.” Another expressed a similar sentiment and wrote, “The bears are so cute but these ladies!!!! I’m in love with their cheerleading for these cuties. Humanity at its finest.” An Instagram user shared, “Why am I emotional? The sound of their voice, support & love is something I think I’ve been missing since childhood. I never knew I needed it until I heard it.”

Black bears are not uncommon in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. The cubs are born usually between mid-January and early February. Bear cubs start walking after five weeks of their birth and are hence spotted alongside their mother throughout March and April. Cubs remain with their mother till they are 15 to 17 months old.

Wildlife experts advise people to maintain a distance from black bears when they are with cubs as bears can get defensive if they sense that anyone is a danger to the cubs. Generally, wild animals are believed to have the “first right of the way”, meaning they get to cross the road first and vehicles must wait for them to cross.

According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, people should not hold bear cubs if they come across one. If someone suspects that the bear cub has been abandoned or orphaned then they should contact the wildlife officials.