Many drivers are familiar with seeing animals that were unfortunately hit by vehicles and left on the side of the road. Armadillos, skunks and deer are all fairly common.
Drivers may not be used to seeing a dead bear.
Earlier this week, conservation officials received calls about a larger mammal that had been struck.
A bear was seen dead on the eastbound side of James River Freeway between I-44 and Highway MM early Monday morning. Joshua Wisdom, wildlife damage control biologist for Missouri Department of Conservation, quickly set out to assess the situation.
“It’s rare for a regular car to hit a bear and not know it,” Wisdom said.