06.09.2010
I live in Asheville, and in recent weeks we've had two black bears wander into the city limits, one of them attacking a dog. Bears meander into Asheville occassionally, with so many parks and wilderness areas surrounding the city, it happens. As the area develops, there are more people and less wilderness for them so it happens more often though. Bear's aren't the only danger in wilderness areas; a hiker was killed by a lighting strike at Max Patch near Asheville last week. And, a woman fell from a waterfall here and died last week.
So, don't take your safety for granted when going hiking, or just going to your favorite swimming hole. Make sure someone knows where you are going, and when to expect you back. Avoid solo hiking. Don't leave your bear bell at home. And know the dangers of where you are hiking - be it lighting, bears, snakes, etc.
