Playing hide and seek with friends or parents is one of the most classic staples of childhood, for both humans and animals. As this adorable footage of a mama bear playing this game with one of her cubs shows, there is something truly universal about it.
This video, which is from a South Lake Tahoe trail camera, shows that the nature of parenting, of playing with kids, is something truly universal in Mother Nature. It is also just flat out adorable!
This precious footage also shows how much this mama bear and her cubs love climbing up trees. Regardless of which species they are, watching a mother playfully bond with her child is never anything less than heartwarming!
Viewers on social media had a lot to say about this one. Some viewers on social media took this video as an opportunity to point out that animals and humans are not so different and that they should be respected and protected at all costs: “Animals are here with us, not for us. They are mothers, they’re fathers, they are babies. They’re living, breathing beings with families and lives.”
Other social media users expressed a similar sentiment when they commented on this video: “This made me tear up, look how PRECIOUS they are. Absolute ANGELS of the Earth. WE MUST PROTECT OUR BEARS!”
Related: Kind Campers Rescue Newborn Orphaned Bear Cubs After Hearing Their ‘Cries Getting Louder’
While some viewers on social media opined that, based on this footage, bears clearly understand something that eludes us humans: “Probably she is teaching their cubs to learn how to hide from humans. I swear bears are better than humans!”
Things To Understand About Bear Season
A close-up of a mama black bear with her cub.Image via Shutterstock/jo Crebbin
(Image via Shutterstock/jo Crebbin)
According to Lake Tahoe Travel, bear season has officially begun with the weather warming up. That means that sightings like these around the Lake Tahoe area will become increasingly common during the spring.
During this time, it is important to know that black bears around Lake Tahoe are “opportunistic omnivores” who will eat anything that they can find. Because their sense of smell is 10 times greater than a bloodhound’s, they can smell food from miles away. They also have excellent vision and memory, so it is easy for them to identify and go back to places where they have previously found food.
While the mama bear in this footage is not looking for food, there’s a good chance that she might wander into a human neighborhood in search of something to eat in the future. It’s best for people in areas with significant bear populations to take the appropriate safety measures by locking down any potential food sources around their homes to prevent any unwanted bear visits.
SIGN UP to get “pawsitivity” delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends🐾🐾
This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Apr 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.