Grizzly bears are one of the cutest animals in the world when they're young. I'm not sure if that's a subjective or objective statement. Anyway, in a video that just popped up on social media, a grizzly cub is seen looking in the direction of the camera and waving its paw. Of course, it's neither waving hello or goodbye — why would it know to do that?
Instead, it's most likely trying to keep its balance as it stands upright. In the caption, Alaskan photographer Brooke Bartleson explained that "bear cubs are super unstable when they're learning how to stand up, and so they often flail their arms to stabilize themselves."
"It was so cute to see this little cub appear to wave while trying to keep herself steady. Eventually, she still toppled over," Bartleson said, adding that it will be "forever one of the cutest moments."
The video, which has been viewed more than 220,000 times, has garnered more than 21,000 likes and some 132 comments since it was posted on Wednesday.
In the comments, people were overwhelmingly charmed. "Omg I would die" said danigoinhamm. jc_fineart said: "That is a Queen's wave if I ever saw one. So sweet." And at least one person said: "Omg i would run towards them fast."
Wildlife experts say grizzly cubs are born blind and helpless when they're born, but they grow rapidly in their first seven to eight months of life. And although grizzly cubs aren't necessarily dangerous, their mothers are, so never engage with a grizzly cub in the wild.
