On Monday, March 20 at 6:30 pm Ashley Hobbs will present a program on Black Bears in Western NC, as part of the historic Cowee School Monday night lecture series, “Where We Live: History, Nature, and Culture.”

Want to learn how to co-exist safely with bears? Want to know more about black bears in North Carolina?

Ashley Hobbs, Bear Biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will discuss the natural history of black bears in western North Carolina and how you can use that information to safely coexist with these North Carolina treasures. Among the topics covered will be:

• Bear behavior and biology in North Carolina.

• The BearWise initiative, which provides ways to prevent conflicts, provides resources to resolve problems, and encourages community initiatives to keep bears wild.

• What to do in a bear encounter.

A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.

For tips on how to coexist with bears visit: bearwise.org

The program will take place at Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center at 51 Cowee School Drive in Franklin. The  lecture series is designed to give people an opportunity to learn more about our local area, from many different angles, and to enjoy a pleasant, informative evening together. Come join us!