As temperatures heat up, a mother bear was spotted giving her cub a swimming lesson at a pool in California.
Video footage captured by a resident shows the mama bear and her cub take a dip in a pool in Auburn, about two hours northeast of San Francisco. In the video, the bear cub is first seen swimming in the pool as the mother looks on and fixes her baby’s form. She then hops into the pool herself to show her cub how it’s done. After they are done, the two stroll away into the trees.
The resident who captured the video told KCRA 3 it is not uncommon for bears to visit their home to cool off, joking that they’ve been having a hard time keeping the pool clean.
How to be ‘BearWise’
While black bears are found throughout much of California, they are more abundant in the North Coast and Cascade regions, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). These wild animals can be found in a variety of habitats, such as forests, grasslands, deserts and the urban-wildland interface. With human-bear conflict on the rise, wildlife agencies are advising all residents to be more “BearWise” and take “reasonable corrective measures” to avoid encounters.
Measures include securing food, garbage and any other food items that are likely to attract bears.
“If a black bear becomes habituated to humans or food-conditioned, they may become increasingly bold or destructive,” CDFW says.
The National Park Service, meanwhile, suggests keeping the following things in mind if you encounter a bear:
Talk in a low, steady voice and do not scream or otherwise act suddenly. Make yourself appear as large as possible.
Do not approach bears. If you encounter a bear in your own yard, do not leave the house. Ensure everyone is secure inside before banging pots or making other loud noises to scare the bear away.
Be extra cautious if you see cubs. Mother bears are very protective of their young. Do not approach, touch or interact with cubs.
Travel in groups and pick up small children and pets upon sighting a bear.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See video of mama bear giving cub swimming lessons in pool