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Bear Rehabilitator Teaches Adorable Bear Cubs to Drink Porridge From a Bowl

bear cubs drink porridge
Image by BBC via YouTube

This footage comes from a Russian family that spends most of their days rehabilitating bears – today they are teaching the cubs how to drink porridge out of a bowl. This might just be the cutest thing you’ll ever see, and it’s almost impossible to imagine that they’ll grow up and become lethal predators one day.

Hibernation Meets Education

bear cubs drink porridge
Image by BBC via YouTube

Gordon Buchanan, a BBC reporter, arrives at the remote Russian wilderness where the Pazhetnovs have been rehabilitating bear cubs for decades. The first task at hand is to familiarize the cubs with their temporary human caregivers.

A Bowl of Warmth in the Cold

bear cubs drink porridge
Image by BBC via YouTube

Learning to drink porridge from a bowl is not just adorable but crucial. As the cubs are growing bigger and bigger, they are also becoming more difficult to bottle feed – and with so many cubs to feed and care for, the Pazhetnovs need to save time.

Why Drinking From a Bowl Can Be Dangerous For Them

bear cubs drink porridge
Image by BBC via YouTube

While something so simple as drinking from a bowl doesn’t seem dangerous at all, it could in fact become fatal to these inexperienced bear cubs. Unless trained, they could accidentally inhale the porridge which then could lead to a fatal case of pneumonia.

One Baby Bear Step at a Time

bear cubs drink porridge
Image by BBC via YouTube

Before putting the bowl on the floor, Katya Pazhetnov needs to learn the cub to associate the bowl with food. First, she pours a little porridge into the bowl and holds it in front of the cub while still holding the cub mid-air. Quickly this little guy gets the hang of it – while also loving the porridge!

A Mother’s Love

bear cubs drink porridge
Image by BBC via YouTube

Bear cubs typically stay with their mother for about two to three years, learning vital survival skills through observation and imitation.

Why Are Grizzly Bears Considered Dangerous?

Grizzly Bear. Image via Depositphotos.

Sure, these cubs are the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen, but that’s only temporary. When grown up, grizzly bears are powerful predators with strong territorial instincts. They can become aggressive if they feel threatened, making them dangerous to humans.

How Fast Can Grizzly Bears Run?

Grizzly Bear. Image via Depositphotos.

Grizzly bears can run up to 35 miles per hour. Their speed makes it impossible for humans to outrun them, emphasizing the importance of keeping a safe distance.

What Should You Do If You See a Grizzly Bear in the Wild?

yellowstone
Yellowstone national park. Image by Kerry via Pexels

If you see a grizzly bear, stay calm, avoid sudden movements, and slowly back away without turning your back on the bear. Never approach it.

Why Is It Dangerous to Surprise a Grizzly Bear?

A portrait of a wild grizzly bear.
A portrait of a wild grizzly bear. By Jean Beaufort. Image via https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=300112&picture=grizzly-bear, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82893998

Surprising a grizzly bear can trigger its defensive instincts, leading to an aggressive response. Bears need time to recognize you as a non-threat.

How Close Is Too Close to a Grizzly Bear?

brown bear
Brown bear. Image via Depositphotos

Experts recommend staying at least 100 yards (300 feet) away from grizzly bears to ensure safety for both you and the bear.

What Role Does Scent Play in Attracting Grizzly Bears?

Mother bear protects her three little pups in the Finnish taiga. Image via Depositphotos.

Grizzly bears have an excellent sense of smell and are attracted to strong scents. Avoid carrying food or scented items that might lure them closer.

Why Is It Important to Keep Your Campsite Clean?

Bear hidden in yellow forest. Autumn forest with bear. Beautiful brown bear walking around lake with autumn colours. Dangerous animal in nature forest and meadow habitat. Wildlife scene from Finland. Image via depositphotos.

Keeping a clean campsite prevents attracting bears with food scraps and other scents. Bears that associate humans with food can become dangerous.

What Are the Consequences of Feeding Grizzly Bears?

Ruling the landscape, brown bears of Kamchatka (Ursus arctos beringianus)

Feeding grizzly bears teaches them to associate humans with food, leading to increased aggression and potential bear-human conflicts.

How Do Bear Attacks Typically Occur?

Mother bear protects her three little puppies. Image via depositphotos.com

Most bear attacks happen when bears are surprised, feel threatened, or are protecting their cubs. Approaching a bear increases these risks.

Why Is It Essential to Use Bear-Proof Containers?

As apex predators, brown bears have few natural predators themselves. Image via Pexels

Bear-proof containers prevent bears from accessing human food, reducing the likelihood of them associating campsites with easy meals.

How Does Bear Spray Help in Bear Encounters?

Boy attack bear
Brown bears are among the largest terrestrial carnivores.
Image via Pexels

Bear spray is an effective deterrent that can stop a charging bear. It’s crucial to carry it and know how to use it properly in bear country.

What Impact Does Human Interaction Have on Grizzly Bear Behavior?

brown bear
Big bear in the forest. Image by VolodymyrBur via Depositphotos

Frequent human interaction can lead to habituation, where bears lose their natural fear of humans, increasing the chances of dangerous encounters.

Why Is It Vital to Respect Bear Warning Signs and Closures?

brown bear
Image by Frank Vassen on Wikimedia Commons

Bear warning signs and area closures are implemented to protect both humans and bears. Ignoring these can lead to unsafe situations.

How Can You Safely View Grizzly Bears?

brown bear
Illustration by Amy King with Mid Journey

Use binoculars or a telephoto lens to observe grizzly bears from a distance. This allows you to enjoy the sight without putting yourself or the bear at risk.

What Should You Do If a Grizzly Bear Approaches You?

Close up portrait of adult male Brown Bear on a snow-covered swamp in the spring forest. Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos)

If a grizzly bear approaches, stay calm, talk softly, and back away slowly. If the bear continues to approach, use bear spray as a last resort.

Bear Cubs Drink Porridge From a Bowl: Conclusion

This adorable interaction reminds us that all animals, no matter how big and scary they might become, were all babies once in need of tender love and care. These cubs who tug at our heartstrings also help to underline why there’s such a big need to protect this species – imagine these cute things aren’t around for future generations?

Thank you for reading this article about these bear cubs who learn how to drink porridge from a bowl! For more bear-things, take a look here:

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