Photographer: Ray Maichin

Walking on a trail in the woods I thought I was alone, until mama bear poked her head out from the bush! I kept my calm and continued to walk along the path until I was clear of her, what I didn't see was that she was with two cubs! From a safe distance I took out my camera and began shooting which resulted in this tender moment between mom and cub. I came away very happy with the result, the green background with large trees and ferns representative of a natural pacific northwest scene. Although this situation ended safely, it is important to always consider being aware of your surroundings and practicing bear safety. Bear attacks are rare, but that doesn't mean we shouldn’t respect their space, especially when a mother is with her cubs.