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

The half-decade-old mother and her nearly year-old cubs were spotted and filmed during the annual polar bear migration along the Western Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba, an area renowned for its polar bear population.

"It's unusual," stated a scientist with an international bear organization. "We don't really know why it happens...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

This represents only the thirteenth documented instance of fostering out of nearly five thousand bears researched for nearly five decades in the area.

The female bear was initially tagged as she emerged from her birthing den this springtime. Initially, she had a single offspring, which researchers tagged for research.

In the autumn, she was spotted once more, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and a second that was untagged. Scientists are uncertain what happened to the new cub's biological mother, but they are attempting to locate her using DNA analysis.

"These animals need every advantage they can get in the current era with climate change," noted a wildlife biologist. "If females have the opportunity to pick up an additional youngster and raise it and see it to independence, it's a good thing for the bears."

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

The cubs are reported as in good condition, according to experts, and they will probably stay with their adoptive mother until they are about 30 months of age.

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

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