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Researchers monitoring free-roaming polar bears in Canada's northern regions observed something remarkably uncommon this autumn: a mother bear taking in a cub that was not genetically her own.

The half-decade-old maternal bear and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were observed and filmed during the annual polar bear migration along the Western Hudson Bay near the Manitoba town of Churchill, an area renowned for its concentration of Arctic bears.

"It's unusual," stated a researcher 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 thirteenth documented instance of fostering out of 4,600 bears researched for nearly five decades in the area.

The female bear was first captured as she emerged from her maternity den this springtime. Initially, she had a single offspring, which researchers marked for research.

In the fall, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the original cub and a second that was untagged. Researchers are uncertain what became of the new cub's birth 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," noted a wildlife biologist. "When mother bears have the chance to take in another cub and care for it and see it to independence, it's a good thing for the bears."

Polar bears in the natural world only have a 50% chance of surviving into maturity, but having a maternal figure caring for them improves their odds.

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

Following this, the bear family is anticipated to venture out to sea ice, where the youngsters will learn from their mother how to catch prey and survive on their own.

"It's just nice to know that the bears are caring for each other," concluded the scientist.