Exhibit 23(a)



                Independent Auditors' Consent


The Board of Directors and Stockholders
The Beard Company:

We consent to  incorporation  by reference in the  Registration  Statements (No.
33-87110,  33-98482,  and  333-06757)  on Form S-8 of The Beard  Company  of our
report dated March 19, 2001, relating to the balance sheets of The Beard Company
and  subsidiaries  as of  December  31,  2000,  and the  related  statements  of
operations,  shareholders' equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31,
2000,  which report  appears in the December 31, 2000 annual report on Form 10-K
of The Beard Company.


                                           COLE & REED, P.C.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
March 19, 2001