Driving down a quiet forest road, I suddenly spotted a black shape near the roadside. As I got closer, my heart nearly stopped—it was a mother bear, sitting up and waving her paw at me.

Terrified, I almost sped off. But something about her didn’t seem threatening—she looked like she was trying to get my attention.

I stopped the car. She stood up, glanced back at me, and walked toward the trees, as if asking me to follow. Just beyond the tree line, I saw why: her cub had a plastic jar stuck tightly on its head, struggling helplessly.

She wasn’t waving to scare me—she was asking for help.

Moving slowly, I approached and gently removed the jar. The mother bear rushed to her cub, sniffed and licked it, then turned to me one last time before disappearing into the forest.

That look she gave me—calm, almost grateful—I’ll never forget it.