Kids can be cute, but they can also keep their parents on their toes for hours at a time. Whether they’re getting into trouble or running off at any chance they get, energetic children aren’t for the faint of heart.

As a pair of stubborn bear cubs proved to their exasperated mama, animal babies can be just as chaotic. The baby bears were ready to wander off and explore, but Mom was having none of it! The lucky onlooker who caught this scene on video couldn’t help but laugh, even though this North Carolina mama bear is clearly at the end of her rope.

This poor mama! She’s wasting no time racing from one cub to the other, but neither of them seems to be cooperating. If only one of them would stay put, her job would be ten times easier!

Human moms like @sarahfishbeinmosaics can sympathize with the black bear mama and her never-ending job. She commented, “Exactly what it is like to be a mom. Frustrating as heck for the mother.” As much as viewers wish they could help her, or at least let her know her efforts are being seen, all we can do is hope this mama gets the rest she desperately needs.

Related: Mama Black Bear Spotted in Georgia Mountains With 4 Cubs Has Her Paws Full

I’d like to think that both Mom and babies felt calmer once they were back in the protection of the woods. @Christyhope40 was on the right track when she wrote, “She was trying her best to protect them and get them away from the people and their cars.” The baby bears, on the other hand, were more interested in climbing all over the fence!

If you turn your volume up and listen closely, you can even hear the cubs’ tiny roars. They almost sound like kids yelling! Their sweet sounds prove they’re just as frustrated as their mama is, but they’d rather stay instead of go. As @que.pasa.lassa said, this is “The infamous ‘time to leave the park’ dance of a single mom who works two jobs.”

Black Bear Cubs

This frustrated mama is just one of thousands of bears who are welcoming cubs this spring. As the North American Bear Center explains, black bear cubs are typically born in January, and they spend the first few months of their lives snuggled up in their dens with their mom and siblings. Mothers and cubs are the last to leave their dens in the spring, and cubs continue to nurse until late spring or early summer.

Since it’s only early April, these cubs likely haven’t been out of their dens for long! They’re curious little babies who don’t understand the danger of humans or cars, so Mom has to be extra aware. No wonder she’s so stressed out!

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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.