Neighborhood 'bear hunts' are an adorable cure for kids' social-distancing boredom

With schools closing and people warned to stay home due to the coronavirus, parents and caregivers are working extra hard to keep their children engaged and not climbing the furniture. Fortunately it's still safe to take brief, socially-distanced walks outside, provided there aren't many others out and it's done responsibly.

Just be careful — there are bears out there.

To heighten the fun of these jaunts, and keep local community spirit alive, people around the world are putting stuffed toys in their windows for children to spot on "bear hunts."

It isn't clear exactly where the trend started, but it's gained momentum over the past few days.

The global hunt appears to have been inspired by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury's 1989 children's book We're Going on a Bear Hunt, with many using the hashtag #GoingOnABearHunt. In the popular story, a group of brave children surmount numerous obstacles in a quest to "catch a big one" on a beautiful day.

Various furry creatures have appeared in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, while CTV News journalist Daniele Hamamdjian's London street became a wildlife habitat after she shared the idea in a WhatsApp group.

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If your hunting party wants to track down your own local grizzlies, this website marks a few known bear habitats. Just be safe while you're going through that long, wavy grass.