Grizzly Bear Momma Loses Cub in the Forest and Won’t Give Up Looking

Grizzly bear mothers are some of the best parents on Earth. They devote themselves entirely to their cubs from birth, fearlessly defending them against any threat imaginable. However, what happens if a cub gets separated from its mother? In this YouTube video, a four-month-old cub goes missing for a nail-biting 12 hours, but thanks to its mother’s incredible blend of instinct, resilience, and unwavering drive, the two find each other again!

How Instincts Guide First-Time Bear Mothers

You’ve likely heard the term “Mama Bear.” This perfectly describes the female grizzly bear, one of the most devoted mothers in the animal kingdom. Like humans, every grizzly mom is unique; some are incredibly protective, while others are more relaxed. However, female grizzlies are generally born with stronger protective instincts for their cubs than many other animals, including black bears.

For instance, black bears are far less likely to attack to defend their young. In contrast, grizzly bears are much more likely to attack in defense of their young. They will even confront a male grizzly twice their size if it means protecting their cubs. Yet, even with a vigilant grizzly mother, surviving to adulthood is difficult. Cubs may fall victim to natural hazards like rivers, and many are killed by male grizzlies seeking to mate with the mother. Around half of all grizzly cubs do not make it to maturity.

One major reason for this fierce protective instinct is that grizzlies have one of the lowest reproductive rates among North America’s land mammals. Reproduction demands immense energy, and grizzly bears typically only have two or three cubs at a time. In addition, mothers care for their cubs exclusively for two to three years without mating again. Therefore, losing a cub is a much greater setback for a grizzly mother than it is for many other species.

Foraging and Raising Cubs

Female grizzly bears only have cubs if they are truly ready to do so. After mating, a small embryo forms, but it will not implant in the uterus unless the mother has eaten enough before hibernation. Grizzly bears need to store a significant amount of fat and nutrients for their long winter sleep. If they are expecting cubs, they need to store even more. Essentially, if a female does not store enough fat for hibernation, the embryo will not implant, and she will not become pregnant.

Grizzly bears give birth during their hibernation. The mother wakes up to deliver her cubs and then continues to sleep off and on until April. Meanwhile, her tiny cubs nurse and sleep beside her. Thanks to her nutrient-rich milk, the cubs’ body weight increases 12 to 20 times by the time they leave the den. The mother then cares for them for two to three years, ensuring they learn everything necessary to survive independently in the wild.

When they finally emerge from the den, the female grizzly is starving after her long hibernation and from nursing her cubs. While foraging for food, she often leaves her cubs at a “baby-sitter” tree, where they can climb, play, and sleep safely. Although grizzly mothers may travel up to two miles away to find food, their exceptional senses of smell and hearing allow them to detect any trouble. If the cubs cry out in distress, the mother will immediately return to them.

How Grizzly Moms Find Their Lost Cubs

Even the most watchful grizzly bear can become separated from one of her cubs. This is especially true for first-time mothers and bear families that live near human settlements or roadways. If they do become separated — for example, if a cub wanders off out of curiosity while the mother is foraging — she can usually find them quickly using her remarkable sense of smell. If the cubs make noise, such as crying or yelling, her acute hearing will help her locate them quickly. The mother may return to areas where she last saw or left the cub, all while actively searching with her keen senses of smell and hearing. Fortunately for the bear family in the YouTube video, the mother found her cub. Afterward, having learned from the experience, the three stayed much closer together.

While bear cubs can become orphaned, encountering one in the wild almost always means its mother is still nearby. Therefore, always maintain a safe distance and never attempt to touch or handle the cub. Its mother is most likely foraging nearby, and interfering could separate them. Sadly, many cubs mistakenly believed to be orphaned are brought to wildlife officials by well-intentioned people. It is important to remember that grizzly bear mothers are dedicated and will provide their cubs with all the care they possibly can.

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