Скачать или смотреть Newborn Bear Cubs in a Swamp on Valentine's Day

The Story:
I was exploring a cattail marsh for deer beds when I heard a sound about 15 yards away and an animal slowly ran off. At first I thought it was a deer because that is what was on my mind but in hindsight it was a mother (sow) black bear. Still thinking I had jumped a deer I took a few more steps towards the area where the bed was hoping to mark it for future information, only to come to the startling realization there were 3 bear cubs in a large cattail nest. Realizing a potentially protective mama bear was now close-by and I was 'pinned' at the end of a marsh point I watched the area where the sow had stopped but began recording video. I waited for her to wander off to the side of the point and then slowly exited the other side. The cubs were not touched and the closest I got was 10 yards away (the location where I first realized there were cubs around).
The Bears:
Black bears in PA typically have their young in early January. Cubs don't open their eyes for six weeks and begin walking at about eight weeks. I estimate the cubs are between 6-8 weeks old because their eyes were open but they had trouble walking. Most sow and cub families leave their winter home in late March or early April.
Some recent research I was reading indicates that mother bears can go from hibernation mode to 'awake' when danger approaches. I never saw but a few inches of her back (which appeared brownish...perhaps a cinnamon phase black bear) but compared to every other bear encounter I have had over the years she seemed a bit lethargic/docile in her actions (based mostly on the vegetation I could see her moving while running/walking/standing still).
The Bear Nest:
The nest was very close to the water's edge but the water level is stable due to the passive source of incoming water and the impounding work of beavers. The nest appeared to be made solely of shredded cattail pieces. No bushes, trees or objects afforded the sow bear protection from the elements leaving her completely exposed to cold temperatures and snow, wind and rain. There was a smaller nest perhaps a few feet from the nest seen here. I surmise it may have been an earlier location for the sow to rest but the pressed down main nest indicates the bears have been in this location for some time (i.e. since hibernation started).
More Video:
This video was taken on my phone. I do have more video footage taken on my video camcorder with close-up imaging (I could zoom in) which I will post as soon as I get the clips edited together.
Final Thought:
I spend a lot of time outdoors but if I lived ten lifetimes and walked a million miles in each of them, I am quite confident I would never encounter something like this again.
#bearcubs #bearnest #PApublic #blackbears #swampbears