Trail cam in New York captures two bear cubs copying classic children's playground game in adorable scene
The adorable scene, recorded in a wooded area, shows one cub chasing the other through the trees before they tumble into a playful wrestling match.
But while the behavior may seem like innocent fun, wildlife experts say it's actually a vital part of the young bears' development.
In a Facebook post, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) revealed there's more to all that rough-and-tumble than meets the eye, saying the cubs' woodland wrestling matches 'provide many benefits to a young bear's development'.
According to the agency, all that climbing and sprinting helps cubs learn how to dodge danger and stay one step ahead of predators.
Wrestling serves as basic training for fighting off threats and capturing prey. Endless romping strengthens their lungs and hearts so they're ready to roam long distances in search of food, a mate, or a den to hunker down in for winter.
Even memory, spatial awareness, and problem-solving skills get a boost from all the action.
They may grow into hulking, 300-pound adults, but in their early months, black bear cubs spend less time lounging and more time getting wild in the woods.
Cubs usually stay with their mothers for up to 17 months before venturing out on their own.
The NYSDEC also included a reminder for the public: 'Although black bear cubs can be playful, it's important to remember to Be BearWise and never feed or approach bears.
'Adult female bears will defend their cubs from any perceived threat, including people who get too close. Enjoy and observe bears from a distance.'
The camera that caught the clip is one of many placed across New York to monitor the state's growing black bear population, which has become increasingly visible in both rural and suburban areas.
This sighting comes after an enormous grizzly bear has been captured on camera prowling through the snow near a tourist hotspot in Montana - marking the year's first sighting as the predators emerge from hibernation.
The eerie footage, recorded in March evening near the town of West Yellowstone, shows the apex predator plodding through a snowstorm, moving slowly as it approaches the camera set up on the ground.
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