In a heartwarming and incredible display, a wild polar bear was caught on camera petting a sled dog that was chained up in the Canadian wilderness.
Polar bears can weigh up to 330-990lbs and are known to be capable of killing dogs, especially those chained up. However, a heartwarming video captured by David De Meulles from Manitoba shows an unexpected interaction between a polar bear and a sled dog. In the footage, the bear is seen gently stroking the dog’s head, as if they were friends. De Meulles expressed his surprise at the sight and described it as a “video of a lifetime.” The incident took place at a dog-breeding center in northern Canada, where the sled dog was calmly sitting on a chain.
While leading a group of tourists to witness polar bears, De Meulles stumbled upon a pack of sled dogs that were chained on the premises of a resident named Brian Ladoon. These exceptional sled dogs are immune to cold weather and evidently quite brave. Initially, one of the polar bears stood tall above the restrained dog who lay calmly at its feet.
As the bear approaches the dog, I hold my breath and wait for the worst. But to my surprise, the animal reaches out with its right paw and softly places it on the dog’s head. Despite its clumsiness, the bear sniffs the dog and pets it again, this time with more confidence. It even switches to its left paw and starts rubbing the dog’s head! I can’t believe my eyes as the dog happily receives the bear’s affection, allowing it to use both paws to pet it gently. This heartwarming moment proves that even the most unlikely friendships can be formed between different species.
The dog and bear duo were quite a sight to behold. The bear had the dog’s chain wrapped around its legs, but seemed to be petting the pooch in a friendly manner. The dog, on the other hand, appeared slightly annoyed with its wild companion and eventually stood up and walked away, prompting the bear to back off as well. While the behavior of bears towards dogs is not entirely uncommon, it was still a mind-blowing experience for the witness, De Meulles. The scene was beautiful and heartwarming, seeing such a large animal show affection towards a smaller creature. The dogs in the area are bred for cold weather and have made the chilly environment their paradise, rarely encountering predators except for the occasional wolf attack, as reported by Ladoon in an interview with CBC.
According to him, polar bears have caused some concerns in the past, but the brave and courageous dogs are able to keep them at bay. They even show appreciation to friendly polar bears by engaging in playful activities with them. However, after a while, the dogs lose interest and leave the scene, causing the bear to retreat due to the chain wrapped around its legs.
