Sunday, July 31, 2011

Cub's curiosity ends in a joint rescue between man and bear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22JKO5_OAQAendofvid
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By Mail Foreign Service

Out in the open: The hapless bear cub is pulled along as Dave Havard drags his fishing net from long reeds near his home in Anchorage, Alaska


It was just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Two bear cubs were out with their mother recently in Anchorage, Alaska, when one spotted a fishing net lying in tall reeds.

The mischievous cub was curious and decided to investigate - inevitably getting tangled in the net and crying to mum for help.


Come with me: The mother bear tries to take her cub back into the reeds but the poor little thing is hopelessly tangled up in the strong fishing net


But the cub's cries were also by fisherman Dave Havard, who came out of his nearby home to see what all the fuss was about.

Havard tried to free the poor cub from the twisted net but didn't want to get too close, just in case the mother misinterpreted his helping hand as a bid to harm the youngster.

Finally, both grown-ups decided to work together.

As an amatuer photographer captured the unfolding (or is that untangling?) drama, Havard got his truck and hooked up the net, dragging it and the poor cub out of the reeds and into the open - with mother bear in hot pursuit.


Now you've done it: The mother looks momentarily perplexed until she decides to tear through the netting with her teeth and claws


Wait till your father hears about this: Mother and the now-freed cub head for the wild - as the cub's bemused sibling follows along behind


Then, as Havard pinned the net to the ground with his truck, mother bear tried to simply carry the cub away. Realising that this was not going to work, she then used her teeth, claws ans sheer strngth to tear through the strong netting and carry the wailing bear back into the wild.

Like all siblings everywhere, the other bear cub didn't lift a furry finger to help during the ordeal - watching from a safe distance with a mixture of curiosity and bemusement.

Both mother an cub were unhurt in the incident , although the little one will be leaving nets alone frrom now on.
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