You actually SAW this bear there? MY GOSh..that's pretty rare!! How fortunate you were to see him...It looks to me like he's almost smilin' atcha!! nice shot Michael!!

The first thing I did once this popped full-view on my screen was yawn. Barely summer here, but I sure feel like it looks. Guess this will be my last viewed image for the night. It and you get top votes for curing any insomnia I may have had up 'til now. Great shot Michael.

For me as a dutch man its so weird..the idea only that you can see a bear in the wild.
the wildest we can see here are rabbits if you are lucky a deer...but that's as far as it goes.
Soi if you met this bear and took this shot...i really envy you.
Well done, nice shot

He's no teddy bear to be sure but he could almost fool you with that expression and the casual way he is flopped over that log...great capture.:Pat.

Almost looks like you could pet him - but I wouldn't dare. :)

Are you sure that isn't Teddy?? Sure looks like it to me.. What a sweet face..This is Black Bear country and they are quite common, but that looks like a grizzly to me.. What a lucky shot..

Very deceptive!!! Lounging this way, I would almost venture towards for a pet behind the ear...ALMOST...very cute, yet I'm sure I would not want to mess with this particular teddy bear. Great picture!!

What a magnificent animal. This is a marvelous portrait of a bear in a relaxed, satisfied mood.

This is the look of contentment. If you were with a group of ppls I hope no one was missing. He looks like he just ate. Great shot.

I remember not so long ago a man was mauled by a bear. We later found out that he had been hand feeding it smarties and when he ran out, the bear decided he wanted more, lol.
DUH
JuneBug

What a great picture -- I love it!!

great photo, if only he was a teddy, I'd quite like one as a pet. :-)

interesting bit of info....
the teddy bear was named because teddy roosevlet was hunting for a bear one day and wasnt having much luck so the gamesmen he was with wwent and got an old bear and tied him to a tree so that he could get his bear, well mr. rtoosevelt didnt think it was very sportsman like and refused to shoot it. well the media got a hold of this little bit of information and made cartoons about it and after a whole the old bear turned into a baby bear and toy company made a stuffed bear for him called teddy's bear which today is the teddy bear!

awesome shot top marks and into favs!

so many of your shots look like postcards! i love em! my sister would adore this one. she loves bears. i can't believe you saw one too. stunning

Love the title but did you actually get that close to the bear or were you using zoom if it was the former you are a brave man

"There is no good or evil everyone is a shade of grey"

Gorgeous picture, now in my favourites :)

Great shot again! Sorry for so many comments in one day, I'll try to keep them to a low amount! Well, again, beautiful and animal and beautiful shot, the colors and the detail with no blurs! Another one for my favorites.

great shot.Same problem here stormdancer ;)

This is an absolutely great photo. I live in Canada near the Rocky Mountains so i've seen my fair share of grizzly bears as well. They're great aren't they? Your title is very clever and fits the picture well. How far away were you from this creature? Also, I am curious as to what camera you used?

Keep up the good work.

Absolutely amazing!

a lovely BEAR!

This is just soooo darned cute!!!!!!! He does look cuddly!

i think this bear is dead... look at his eye...

lol, awesome pic :)