A Mother Bear and Her Cubs! Oh My!

Karsten Kargel, of Willow Springs, photographed this mother bear and her cubs near his home on County Road 5680. He reported that he has often seen the babies over the last couple of weeks, but finally saw the mother and so ran for his camera. Kargel estimates the mother to be seven feet tall and to weigh perhaps 480 pounds. He remarked on her beautiful cinnamon color that sparkled in the sunshine. The adult bear appeared to have tags from the Missouri Department of Conservation in both ears.