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Scientists monitoring free-roaming polar bears in Canada's northern regions witnessed something exceedingly rare this fall: a female bear taking in a cub that was not genetically her own.

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

"This is uncommon," 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 13th known case of adoption out of 4,600 bears studied for almost fifty years in the area.

The female bear was first captured as she emerged from her birthing den this springtime. At the time, she had a single offspring, which scientists tagged for study.

In the fall, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the original cub and another without a tag. Scientists are uncertain what happened to the new cub's biological mother, but they are trying to locate her using genetic samples.

"The bears need every advantage they can get in the current era with a warming climate," commented a wildlife biologist. "If females 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 adulthood, but having a maternal figure providing care improves their chances.

The cubs appear to be healthy, researchers said, and they will likely stay with their mother until they are about 30 months of age.

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

"It is heartening to know that the bears are looking out for each other," concluded the scientist.