Mother bear comes to cubs’ rescue in South Lake Tahoe

Firefighters in South Lake Tahoe got an unusual call this week.

According to cell phone video posted Monday, firefighters responded to a report of separated bear cubs near Tahoe Keys Marina and Yacht Club only to find that the cubs’ mother was already attempting a water rescue.

“With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, we feel like sharing a story of a mother bear and her three cubs that have come out into the community today,” the South Lake Tahoe Firefighter’s Association said in a social media post.

Video showed one of the black bear cubs swimming near a pier in the marina, and its mother jumping in the lake to swim after it.

Onlookers on the pier cheered as the mother bear put the cub on her back and swam to the shore and climbed out.

“The mother bear was determined to save all three of her cubs herself and ensure that they see tomorrow by continually swimming each one to safety!” the firefighters association said.