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

The five-year-old maternal bear and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were observed and captured on camera during the yearly polar bear migration along the Hudson Bay's western shore near Churchill, Manitoba, an locale known for its concentration of Arctic bears.

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

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

The female bear was first captured as she came out from her birthing den this spring. Initially, she had a single offspring, which researchers tagged for study.

In the autumn, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and another without a tag. Researchers aren't sure what became of the second cub's birth mother, but they are trying to locate her using DNA analysis.

"The bears need every advantage they can get these days with climate change," noted a polar bear scientist. "If females have the chance to pick up an additional youngster and raise it and successfully wean it, it's a good thing for the population."

Polar bears in the natural world only have a 50% chance of living into adulthood, but having a maternal figure providing care improves their odds.

The cubs appear to be healthy, according to experts, and they will probably remain with their adoptive mother until they are about 30 months of age.

Next, the bear family is expected to head out to sea ice, where the youngsters will be taught from their mother how to hunt seals and survive on their own.

"It's just nice to know that the animals are looking out for each other," added the scientist.