Bear caught on wildlife camera in Bates County

Image of a curious bear caught on a game
camera owned by Jimmy Nissen of Butler Sunday night.

Imagine checking your wildlife camera and finding something on it you weren't expecting- like a bear.  

And that's what happened to Jimmy Nissen of rural Butler over the past weekend. Nissen had his wildlife video camera set up at a location near YY highway South and East of Butler, and the video captured around 8:45 p.m. clearly shows what appears to be a bear looking right into the camera.

According the the Missouri Department of Conservation, black bears are indeed making a comeback in Missouri as their habitat to the North is getting crowded.

Gene Fox of the Missouri Department of Conservation says the bears are more likely to run than attack a person, but advises to carry pepper spray, a rock, stick, knife or something when you're out in the woods. He also noted that if you are camping, keep your food tightly sealed and don't eat in your tent.

By the way, bears are a protected species in Missouri. If you see one, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation at 573-882-9880.