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Scientists tracking wild polar bears in Canada's northern regions observed something remarkably uncommon this fall: a mother bear adopting a cub that was not genetically her own.

The five-year-old maternal bear and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were observed and filmed during the annual polar bear journey along the Western Hudson Bay near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an locale known for its polar bear population.

"This is uncommon," remarked a researcher with a polar bear conservation group. "The reasons are unclear why it happens...but we know it is a rare event at all."

It's only the 13th known case of fostering out of nearly five thousand bears studied for almost fifty years in the area.

The mother bear was initially tagged as she emerged from her maternity den this spring. Initially, she had one cub, which researchers tagged for research.

In the autumn, she was spotted once more, but this time with two cubs - the original cub and a second that was untagged. Scientists aren't sure what became of the second cub's birth mother, but they are trying to identify her using genetic samples.

"These animals need every advantage they can get in the current era with a warming climate," commented a polar bear scientist. "If females have the opportunity to pick up an additional youngster and raise it and successfully wean it, it's a positive development for the population."

Polar bears in the natural world only have a fifty-fifty survival rate of living into maturity, but having a mother caring for them improves their odds.

The young bears are reported as in good condition, according to experts, and they will likely remain with their adoptive mother until they are about 30 months of age.

Next, the family is anticipated to venture out to the frozen ocean, where the youngsters will learn from their mother how to hunt seals and survive on their own.

"It is heartening to know that the animals are caring for each other," concluded the scientist.