Mama Bear Rushes to Save Cub Who Fell off Connecticut Bridge

We all know that mama bears are fiercely protective of their cubs, just like human moms are. ABC News shared a video on Tuesday, April 23rd that proves mama bears stop at nothing to keep their babies safe. Fair warning, the video is a bit hard to watch.

ABC News does not share who shot the video, but a woman noticed a bear and her cubs on a railway bridge and was recording them. One of the cubs falls off the bridge into the water below. The mama bear wastes no time bolting down the hill and jumping into the water to save her cub. Watch what happens once she gets the cub to safety.

It was hard to watch the cub fall off the bridge, and it was hard watching the baby plunge back into the water for the second time! ABC News commenters had a lot to say about the scene. @leorisingstar11 said, "OMG this is so sad she was panicking." and another commenter said, "She was probably a first-time momma." @TroyClaus195 pointed out, "She put it down and was like let's go, baby falls directly back into the river..." and @JeanneSharkey542 made me laugh when she said, "We've all had that one kid that just keeps getting in trouble LOL!"

Related: Mama Bear Charges Car on Canadian Highway to Try and Protect Her Cubs

Mama Bears are Great Moms

Commenter @Dominica Flores pointed out, "A mama bear will do so anything to keep her babies safe!" She's not wrong! Mama bears are extremely protective of their cubs. They will immediately become aggressive anytime they feel threatened or think that their cubs are in harm's way. The bears will stand up to appear taller if they feel threatened, and they'll attack without a second thought if they think their cubs are in danger. You don't mess with mama bears whether they are covered in fur or human!

Bears normally have more than one cub at a time; they can have up to five cubs, but usually only have two. Like human moms, mama bears can be very cuddly when it comes to their babies. In fact, if a mother comes across orphaned or lost cubs, they've been known to "adopt" them and raise them as their own. Mothers are very patient and loving, and they nurture and feed their cubs until they are about 2-1/2 to three years old. Wildlife Insider explains, "The mother bear will decide when she wants her cubs to stop nursing. This is usually when she is ready to mate again."

Once the cubs are old enough to leave the den, a mother bear and her cubs first stop is to find a sturdy tree. "This gives the cubs a place to climb in case of danger, while their mother looks for food within a several mile range. The cubs will alert if they are in danger which will bring their mothers running to their rescue." It also allows them to practice their climbing skills while they wait for their next meal.

Mothers remember where their hibernation dens are as well as where sources of food are. Their number one priority always is to keep their cubs safe and fed. This sounds a lot like us human mamas, too!

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