My sis lives in Black Mt. Bears are common visitors to the town’s neighborhoods. A few years ago one wrecked the cyclone fence in her backyard on it’s way out of Dodge.
The adjoining neighbor had one in it’s yard a month or so ago.
My late father was from the other side of the Smokies, near Maryville and Knoxville. He met my late mom in New York City while on leave from the Navy in the ‘40s. He was a John Wayne lookalike. My mother was an Italian girl from Manhattan. We used to spend the summers there. They were among the best times of my life. My grandpa was 1/4 Cherokee.
My best friend lives in Black Mountain.
He phones about once a week or a little more often. He has mentioned seeing bears several times.
Bears are not as common here in the Florida Panhandle but my neighbor has seen one several times. He takes a hike daily.