<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3H0hTM_1GrOCLUY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3H0hTM_1GrOCLUY00" width="2048" height="1366" ></figure>A juvenile bear was earnestly foraging on the edge of Asheville’s urban forest as I drove by recently. Traffic had slowed to watch as the bear moved among the brambles, just feet from the road. At the nearby corner of Broadway and W.T. Weaver Boulevard, a small bulldozer perched on the hillside after scraping all vegetation off the desecrated ground around it.I have followed the dedicated efforts of the local campaign to save this 45-acre forest and the diversity of life it supports. I have walked through those woods many times over the years. It is a beloved place of respite and peace. The bulldozer on the corner felt like an early warning — a shot across the bow, so to speak, by a university system that is out of touch with the surrounding community and heedless of the dangerous climate heating those old-growth trees mitigate. This urban forest is a treasure, not a commodity.The bear’s presence there is a sad result of the continual displacement of the wild by encroaching development. The bulldozer, a symbol of the juggernaut of destruction. That forest, those trees, that bear and all the living beings that benefit from the urban woods matter more than any ill-advised effort to gain financial profit from its destruction. We must all act to preserve these woods. Deep respect to all who have carried this campaign forward.— Clare HanrahanAsheville<ul><li>Letters, Opinion</li></ul>Thanks for reading through to the end…We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the over 30 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we’ve never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.About LettersThe comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.</div></body>

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A juvenile bear was earnestly foraging on the edge of Asheville’s urban forest as I drove by recently. Traffic had slowed to watch as the bear moved among the brambles, just feet from the road. At the nearby corner of Broadway and W.T. Weaver Boulevard, a small bulldozer perched on the hillside after scraping all vegetation off the desecrated ground around it.

Letter: A bear, a bulldozer and a boondoggle

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A juvenile bear was earnestly foraging on the edge of Asheville’s urban forest as I drove by recently. Traffic had slowed to watch as the bear moved among 

Letter: A bear, a bulldozer and a boondoggle

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