By The Associated Press Staff, October 14, 2016
OTISVILLE, N.Y. — Bear hugs are nothing. Jim Kowalczik hugs bears.
Kowalczik lies on the ground as his 1,500-pound bear buddy, Jimbo, rests a heavy paw on his waist. He feeds Jimbo a marshmallow from his mouth and laughs as a big bear tongue slobbers on his ear.
If that sounds suicidal, consider that Kowalczik and his wife, Susan, have cared for Jimbo for almost 23 years, since the Kodiak bear first came to the couple’s upstate New York haven for injured or unwanted animals as a bottle-feeding cub.
