The six working dogs with Washington State Fish and Wildlife's Karelian Bear Dog Program work with their wildlife officer handlers to help mitigate human-wildlife conflicts with bears, cougars and other animals.
Washington State Fish and Wildlife Officer Keith Kirsch holds his 1-year-old Karelian bear dog Jax as 3-year-old Malcolm Wetchel pets him before a 5K fun run/walk benefiting the program at Mirabeau Park, on May 7, 2016.