Trail Cam In California Catches Escaped Bear Cub Doing Something Unexpected And Oh So Adorable

escaped bear plays with teddy

You’re not gonna believe how adorable this is. A wild little bear in California was caught on camera doing something that’ll melt your heart.

Imagine this: a muddy puddle, a happy cub, and… a plastic teddy bear. Yep, you heard that right.

Meet Tamarack, the most spirited little bear you could ever dream up. This guy’s story starts rough, but trust me, it turns into something that’ll make you smile for the rest of the day.

baby bear in the transporter
Credit: Facebook

A couple of years ago, wildfires ripped through Northern California. In the middle of the chaos was a tiny bear cub, scared, alone, and badly burned on his paws.

That was Tamarack. The poor baby had no idea what was happening, only that everything he knew was gone.

Luckily, rescuers from Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care, Inc. found him just in time. They rushed him to safety, treated his burns, and gave him food, warmth, and love.

baby bear with wrapped paws
Credit: Facebook

For a while, it seemed like Tamarack was finally safe. But this cub had a wild spark in him that no fence could hold.

Because, let’s be honest, some animals are just meant to be free. And Tamarack? He wasn’t about to spend his life in an enclosure.

So one day, the clever little escape artist decided he’d had enough. He somehow managed to dig under an electric fence and vanish into the wild.

baby bear is hiding
Credit: Facebook

From that day on, Tamarack became something of a local legend.

A man named Toogee Sielsch, who loves keeping track of local wildlife, has trail cameras scattered through the forests near his home. And guess who started popping up? Yep. Tamarack.

Each time Toogee spotted him on the cameras, the little bear looked stronger, healthier, and happier.

baby bear in the tree
Credit: Facebook

And then came the moment that melted everyone’s hearts.

One of Toogee’s cameras captured Tamarack enjoying a good, messy splash in a muddy puddle with a plastic toy bear.

Somehow, somewhere, he’d found it… and he wasn’t letting it go.

baby bear is playing with teddy bear
Credit: YouTube

The footage shows him poking the toy, nudging it through the water, then scooping it up again like he’s making sure his little buddy’s okay.

It’s seriously one of the sweetest things you’ll ever see.

After all he’s been through: losing his family, surviving fire, and healing from his injuries,  Tamarack still found a way to play and enjoy life.

baby bear with teddy bear in water
Credit: YouTube

Toogee couldn’t be prouder. Watching Tamarack’s strength and spirit left him emotional, as he shared in an interview:

“It makes my heart very happy to have watched his progress against all odds as an orphaned and healing cub of the year, now yearling. It shows just how tenacious wildlife is when it comes to survival.”

baby bear and teddy bear
Credit: YouTube

When Toogee shared the video online, people went absolutely crazy for it. Thousands of views, endless comments, and so much love for this little survivor.

Somewhere in the forests of California, that brave little bear is probably still splashing in puddles with his plastic teddy, living free and happy, just the way he was meant to.

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