Mama Bear Seemingly 'Drops Off' Her 4 Cubs for Woman to Babysit

For most people, a bear sighting is an exciting--and maybe even frightening--experience. Even when you know you're in an area where bears live, it's an unlikely surprise to see one (hopefully) from a distance. I was grateful to be indoors one morning in Lake Tahoe when I spotted a black bear across the street. It couldn't have cared less about the semi-busy road just a few feet away as it walked alongside it, but nothing interesting happened for as long as I watched it walk away.

For New Jersey resident Susan Kehoe, however, bear sightings are a different story. She's no stranger to the black bears who live in her area, and she even developed a relationship with a few of the more calm and trusting animals.

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you! This brave and kindhearted woman has known one particular mama bear for many years, and their trust finally paid off when Mama brought her four cubs to Susan's front doorstep. The January 23 video is as cute as can be, and the amount of trust everyone has for one another is incredible!

OMG! Those curious little bear cubs just about came into Susan's home, and she didn't even bat an eye. Impressive! Then again, she's been coexisting with black bears for years, so she had learned to read their body language and would know if she were in danger.

Related: TikToker Captures Adorable Clip of Mama Bear and Cubs Trying to Get Over a Fence

Clearly, this mama bear was just fine with the babysitting arrangement! She even settled down to rest on the porch steps behind her little ones, and I wouldn't be surprised if she took a short nap, too. Motherhood can be exhausting, after all, and top-notch babysitters can be few and far between. Fortunately, Susan is a long-time friend and is used to these bear encounters.

These Adorable Bear Cubs Won't Be Visiting Forever

As sweet as this interaction is, many commenters expressed concern for Susan's safety as the bear cubs grow up. True, they'll be familiar with her from a young age, but they'll get to be just as big as their mama one day. It would be a very different video if she answered the door to 5 adult black bears in her yard!

As Susan explained to a viewer, though, mama bears chase out their babies when they get to be around 16 months of age. At this point, they'll need to find their own territory and food since Mama can't do it all. But as long as they don't all flock to Susan's house when the time comes, these juvenile black bears will figure it out just fine!

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