I read news about a bear near a restaurant and all these attacks happening more often. What's going on? Are there more bears now, or are they heading into cities more frequently? Is it dangerous to live in those regions now?
Bears do indeed show up around people more often, but it's not because of overpopulation - it's that there's simply nothing for them to eat in the forest. Berry crops and other natural food sources depend on the weather, and in bad years they head toward human settlements looking for food, especially places like restaurants and dumpsters. Cities in forested regions are growing and expanding, so contact zones are increasing. Living in those regions is dangerous if you ignore basic rules - leaving food out, approaching wildlife - but for people who take precautions, the risk stays low.
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