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Scientists monitoring free-roaming polar bears in Canada's northern regions observed something remarkably uncommon this fall: a female bear adopting a cub that was not genetically her own.

The half-decade-old mother and her nearly year-old cubs were spotted and captured on camera during the yearly polar bear migration along the Hudson Bay's western shore near Churchill, Manitoba, an locale renowned for its polar bear population.

"It's unusual," stated a scientist with an international bear organization. "The reasons are unclear why it occurs...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

It's only the 13th known case of adoption out of 4,600 bears studied for almost fifty years in the area.

The mother bear was first captured as she emerged from her maternity den this springtime. Initially, she had one cub, which scientists marked for study.

In the autumn, she was spotted once more, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and another that was untagged. Researchers are uncertain what became of the new cub's biological mother, but they are trying to locate her using DNA analysis.

"The bears need every advantage they can get in the current era with a warming climate," commented a polar bear scientist. "When mother bears have the chance to take in another cub and care for it and successfully wean it, it's a positive development for the bears."

Polar bears in the natural world only have a 50% chance of surviving into adulthood, but having a mother caring for them boosts their chances.

The young bears are reported as healthy, according to experts, and they will probably remain with their mother until they are about 30 months of age.

Next, the bear family is anticipated to venture out to the frozen ocean, where the cubs will be taught from their mother how to catch prey and live on their own.

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