A spring brown bear cub or COY, (Cub of the year). Meaning the cub was born that spring. Riding on its mother while crossing an Alaskan river, located within Katmai National Park and Preserve. They tend to do this when very young and small. Not all cubs and mothers behave this way. Mothers tend to allow this behavior for only a short time. As the cubs grow it slows her down from getting food and teaching them all the necessities in order to survive.