I love and respect wildlife, even predators.
BUT... I don’t want to live in the midst of them. Our forefathers conquered the land and, yes, that meant eliminating wildlife that were a real threat to humans.
Where I live (Southeast Alabama) we don’t have bears and I’d rather not have them. However, black bears have been expanding their range out of the Appalachians and have now conquered Northeastern Alabama from Huntsville to Fort Paine. We also have a remnant of Florida black bears in the Mobile river delta. I used to teach at Auburn University and a friend there who is a biologist told me bears should be down this way by 2040 or so.
I often see videos on youtube where people are filming the “cute” bears on the porch or patios eating from their bird feeders. They’re NOT cute. Would you let your child or pets out in your backyard if there were occasionally bears on your porch?
They need to be instilled with the fear of men. Get a big dog. Also, shoot if they threaten you, and the law should allow you—not some judge, cop or wildlife enforcer—decide if you’re threatened!
Fort PAYNE!