Lions and Tigers and Bears - Oh My!

Some days, most days actually, I love my job. Today, as I was going to a home to do an appraisal, I came across this bear. Yes - it is still winter and he should still be hibernating. I was coming down the road and saw it in a tree in someones yard. The homeowner, on the corner of Elm and Gibson, has a taxidermy business and my first thought was that he put it in the tree. Then I saw the Channel 9 News truck, I stopped and asked - "Is that a real bear?" Ok, not one of my brighter moments. (As I said, I thought maybe it was "stuffed".) Anyway, they said some hunters were running their dogs (I think coyote hunting) and they flushed out a bear that was in his den. They thought the bear was about 250-300 pounds. Here are a few shots for you. I actually did not get that close, but had my good camera with and my new lense. Have I mentioned lately that I love my camera.