A renovation expected to begin next year at the 67-year-old Bobby N. Setzer Fish Hatchery in Brevard will diminish upcoming trout stockings in local rivers by two-thirds. However, the effect that renovation could have on tourism and businesses that rely on anglers is difficult to determine.
For many Asheville residents, seeing a bear at their trash can is a bucket-list item, the pinnacle of mountain living. But as exciting as a bear sighting can be, interactions with the furry, four-legged natives can quickly spell problems for bears and humans alike.
“At the very least, City Council or the Wildlife Commission could stage a ‘bear summit’ to document the number and character of close calls.”
Municipal officials, wildlife experts and WNC residents talk bear-resistant trash cans, bird feeders and educational initiatives designed to protect citizens and wildlife living in close proximity to each other.
