A tobogganing polar bear and family dog slide into friendship in Newfoundland
Security camera footage from St. Anthony, Newfoundland, captures the incredible moment a wild polar bear repeatedly goes for a ride down a snowy embankment and has a very friendly encounter with the homeowner's dog.
Do wild polar bears like to have fun? That's up for debate, but this video out of Newfoundland seems to suggest they're partial to tobogganing!
On April 19, while Joy Keats was away from home, a large polar bear came sliding onto her property, captured on security cameras.
When the bear first shows up, it's already taking a ride down a sloped path, and a moment later, the bear slides down another slope—right toward the family dog!
Family dog seen interacting with the polar bear in footage. (Credit: Joy Keats/provided)
The pair have a brief encounter, but Keats suggests that the bear was likely well fed with plenty of seals in the area, and it soon moves on to another hill, continuing to toboggan out of view.
Polar bear caught on camera tobogganing in Newfoundland. (Credit: Joy Keats/provided)
Sliding is actually a common behaviour for polar bears, who may do it to save energy while travelling, to groom themselves, and to help distribute their weight on the ice, preventing it from breaking. But research also documents that polar bears, particularly cubs, simply slide around for no reason other than sheer enjoyment.
Watch the entire interaction in the video that leads this article.