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Researchers tracking free-roaming polar bears in northern Canada witnessed something remarkably uncommon this fall: a female bear taking in a cub that was not biologically her own.

The half-decade-old mother and her 10- to 11-month-old cubs were observed and captured on camera during the yearly polar bear migration along the Western Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba, an locale known for its polar bear population.

"This is uncommon," remarked a researcher with a polar bear conservation group. "The reasons are unclear why it occurs...but we know it doesn't happen often at all."

This represents only the thirteenth documented instance of fostering out of nearly five thousand bears studied for nearly five decades in the area.

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

In the autumn, she was seen again, but this time with two cubs - the initially tagged cub and a second without a tag. Scientists are uncertain what became of the new cub's biological mother, but they are attempting to locate her using DNA analysis.

"The bears need every advantage they can get in the current era with a warming climate," noted a polar bear scientist. "When mother bears have the opportunity to pick up another cub and care for it and see it to independence, it's a good thing for the population."

Polar bears in the wild only have a 50% chance of surviving into adulthood, but having a maternal figure caring for them improves their odds.

The young bears are reported as healthy, researchers said, and they will likely stay with their mother until they are about two-and-a-half years old.

Following this, the bear family is expected to head out to the frozen ocean, where the youngsters will be taught from their mother bear how to hunt seals and survive on their own.

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