I will be retired to my old family home in a couple years. The house is on the edge of a tiny village about 150 yards from both a State and National Forrest.
When I was young the only predators around were fox and a couple bobcats and we would play in the woods from dawn to dusk. Nowadays I have photos of bear in my backyard and neighbors are always posting photos of the bear wandering around the village. One person snapped a photo of a cougar that was finally acknowledged as real by the DNR.
When I go out to the property I own, that is all wooded, I now carry a Sig 10mm. I used to carry a Smith 44mag but wanted more rounds and the ability to use single action without having to cock a hammer while being attacked.
When I was growing up, there were no wolves in northern Wisconsin, and bears were rare and afraid of people.
Now I carry a firearm when in the woods. Bears and wolves have become common. As long as they are actively hunted, they tend to avoid humans. But the wolf hunt was stopped by a federal judge.
If a bear or wolf shows interest in you, and does not run away, you are in grave danger.