Bear Cubs Wrestle Outside North Carolina Home-Then One Tries To Let Himself In
Roughhousing is a part of so many childhoods for both humans and animals. These Black Bear cubs are proving that a little wrestling among friends never hurt anyone. In this adorable clip, found by ABC News, we get to witness two young bears play fighting in a manner that makes them seem just like people. They could definitely be a pair of 8-year-olds after school!
The caption tells the story: "Two bear cubs were seen play fighting outside a North Carolina home as one of them tried to open the door. The homeowner said the cubs were in her yard over a period of 2 hours. 'It was like a playground for them,' she added." They probably wanted to go inside for a quick snack.
@abcnews Two bear cubs were seen play fighting outside a North Carolina home as one of them tried to open the door. The homeowner said the cubs were in her yard over a period of two hours. "It was like a playground for them," she added. #animals#bears#Northcarolina#cubs
original sound - ABC News - ABC News
Many commenters proclaimed the bears cute and adorable, especially @james.wing68, who exclaimed, "Omg, that's so adorable!" Another, @Micki, mentioned how prevalent these beasties are in the area, "Thank you for the cute bears! There are a lot of them coming out now in Asheville!" Perhaps it's time to make sure the doors are bear-proof.
Finally, @Tarin Bennett joked, "He hit the door, obviously upset! He got off of screen time, played outside, 'nicely' with his sibling, and yet no snackies!" The baby bear definitely deserves a reward.
Related: Wild Bear Attempts to Sneak Into California Zoo Like He's Tired of the Street Life
Why Bear Cubs Are So Playful
Bears don't just play to entertain us. It's invaluable for their development. The North American Bear Center explains that we don't know exactly why many animals play during their childhoods, but they offer some theories, like burning off energy and exploring their surroundings.
The bear experts go on to note an important point: "Play is most elaborate and prolonged in young mammals whose behavior as adults is based in large part on learning-animals like bears, dogs, cats, and primates." That could mean that learning new skills is a big part of play in early development.
In this case, the two little bears may have been trying to pick breaking and entering as a skill, luckily unsuccessfully.
SIGN UP to get "pawsitivity" delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 9:20 AM.