Intrepid baby bear takes on rushing creek in adorable footage

Your National Parks on Tuesday shared footage showing a newborn black bear attempting to cross a creek, perhaps for the first time.

The footage, posted below, is titled, “Baby bear vs. creek.” It shows the tiny cub pausing before a riffle, then leaping for a boulder opposite the creek but falling just short.

After a brief struggle in swift water, the bear climbs onto the opposite shore and scampers off, presumably to catch up with mom.

The footage is reminiscent of a scene I witnessed in Yellowstone National Park in 2023, involving two first-year grizzly bear cubs navigating a narrow creek while trying to keep up with momma bear.

That footage is posted below and, as viewers can see, both cubs land in the water during their tiny leaps, but quickly cross and take up positions behind mom.

To be sure, keeping up with a momma bear is often difficult. But overcoming obstacles like rushing creeks builds strength and confidence.

As Your National Parks stated: “Bear cubs learn new skills through a combination of instinct, observation, and play.”