Having lived in Tennessee for decades, I have seen a lot of wildlife. We see deer, raccoon, 'possum, rabbits, skunk, fox, and ground hogs, all the time. Once I even saw a mink, and just a couple of weeks ago while driving through DeKalb County, a bobcat crossed the road in front of us. Wild turkeys seem to suddenly be everywhere.

It has not always been like that. 20 years ago, we saw deer, bear and turkeys in the Smokies, but those critters were very rare in other areas. I almost never saw a 'coon or a fox, and only rabbits and skunks were common.

What has made the difference? Maybe development has driven the animals out where they are more visible. Maybe fewer people are hunting, or maybe conservation programs are working better than I thought. It's somehow comforting to know that these original residents are thriving. Maybe the environment is safer for people too.
Howard