Mother bear uses human shields

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.Photo: Jon Swenson

For a mother brown bear in Scandinavia, few sights are as terrifying as a strange male. A new study suggests that smart mama bears have found a surprising way to protect their young. To shield her cubs, mom just has to raise them near an adult bear’s number one enemy: humans.

Over one-third of all brown bear cubs will die during the mating season. And over 90 percent of those fatalities will be at the claws and maws of unrelated males.

Read more:

Science News: 
Mother brown bears protect cubs with human shields

National Geographic:
Brown Bears Use 'Human Shield' to Protect Their Cubs

Times live:
Bear moms seek human help to halt killer mates

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