A pair of black bear cubs hitched a ride on their mother’s back last week as she swam across the Quabbin Reservoir, experts at Massachusetts Division of Wildlife and Fisheries confirmed Monday.

The heartwarming moment was captured by nearby fishermen, who shared several videos of the bears to social media on Wednesday.

“My buddy took me out on the Quabbin for some fishing, and all of a sudden we see a Momma Bear swimming,” Izzy Drost said in a post to Facebook.

Balanced on the bear’s back were two “tiny baby cubs,” Drost wrote.

Video shows the mother bear wading steadily through the reservoir toward an island. She and the cubs can be seen bobbing above the water, their heads rising and dipping with the current.

“What an amazing sight to see,” Drost said.

Black bears can often be seen swimming during the hot summer months in natural bodies of water and, occasionally, in backyard swimming pools, according to a statement from Mass Wildlife.

“Bears can also swim to travel or avoid interactions with people or other perceived threats,” the statement said.

Wildlife officials urge people to maintain a safe distance from bears, especially mothers with cubs who can be particularly defensive.

“Bears should always be appreciated from a distance for the safety of both bears and people,” the statement said.

“If you encounter a bear while hiking or camping, talk in a calm voice and slowly back away,” the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife advises on its website.

“Do not approach bears or intrude between a female bear and her cubs. Do not run. Fight back if a black bear makes contact with you,” the agency says.

Black bears have been expanding their range and population since the 1970s, leading to more frequent encounters with people, according to wildlife experts.

To reduce conflicts, officials recommend removing any food sources from around your home or campsite.

The bear population in Massachusetts is estimated to be over 4,500 and is growing and expanding eastward. Black bears live and breed in Worcester County, northern Middlesex County, and west to the Berkshires.Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Sarah Mesdjian can be reached at sarah.mesdjian@globe.com. Follow her on X @sarahs_journal.