Graceful scratching from a mother bear with many children

A video trap from a nature reserve in Primorye captured a mother bear with many children who decided to scratch herself properly. The cubs carefully watched their mother's movements.

Judging by the pleasure with which she does this, the point is not only in marking the territory. It looks like my back is really itching.

The cubs don't waste time either. They carefully watch the bear, timidly trying to repeat at least some of her movements.

They still have a long way of growing up ahead of them - babies usually stay with their mother until they are 1.5 years old. The father is not involved in raising the offspring, and may even pose a danger to them, so the cubs are raised by the female. Sometimes, last year’s cub (pestun) stays with the young yearlings (lonchaks), which helps the mother in raising her brothers and sisters.