People Can't Stop Listening to the Adorable Sounds These Bear Cubs Make While Nursing
Baby animals somehow always manage to sound even cuter than we expect, and these tiny bear cubs are no exception. In the heart-melting video, the cubs cuddle close to their mother while making the sweetest little nursing noises imaginable. The peaceful scene - combined with the adorable squeaks and grunts - has viewers everywhere replaying the clip over and over again.
@mandy_mayhugh Here is the 1st video of the cubs making the sweet noise when nursing on momma...Such an incredible experience here in Gatlinurg!!!#gatlinburg#cubs#mommabear
original sound - mandy_mayhugh
Mandy shared more about the sweet moment in the caption. "Here is the 1st video of the cubs making the sweet noise when nursing on momma...Such an incredible experience here in Gatlinburg!!!"
We can't disagree with her, and neither could viewers, who left more than 5,000 comments about it. @Lost_and_Found got more than 20,000 likes when she admitted, "I'm 56, and I just realized I've never seen a mama bear like this before. Thank you so much for sharing this."
Commenter @zenBadass pointed out, "Sounds like a hive of honey bears!" @Tricky Tre shared, "Girl, not even David Attenborough has shown me this. So cool!"
Related: Grizzly Bear Mama's Attempt to Get In a Quick Yoga Sesh Is Stymied by Chaotic Cubs
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How Long Do Bear Cubs Nurse?
Commenter @Mad Matilda wrote, "First of all, I didn't know baby bears purred. Second, I didn't know bears could have an entire litter of 4 cubs at once?? I thought they had two at the most, and I just know she's tired as h*ll!"
Believe it or not, mama bears are sometimes known to adopt orphaned or lost cubs, so there's a chance not all of these babies are biologically hers. Either way, she definitely has her paws full. According to the North American Bear Center, bear cubs "nurse frequently and for long periods, making a motor-like hum that seems to tell mothers not to change position because everything is okay."
Bear With Us explains that black bear cubs like the ones in this video typically continue nursing until they're around 17 months old, or until their mother is ready to mate again. At that point, "she suddenly becomes intolerant of her yearlings and threatens (chases) them away."
From then on, the cubs are officially on their own and won't get free meals from mom anymore.
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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 4:00 PM.