Such cool stories, Linn. I keep hoping to see bear.
The most I see is the occasional fox or coyote.
And lots of turkeys. There was one time, on my drive to work
when I saw at least a dozen roosting in a clump of
tall oak trees - and another time when one raced me
along a side road near home. I had slowed down to
10 or 15 mph so I wouldn't hit it, and it just ran
along side of me for several hundred yards.

Beavers can be awesome creatures. I'll never forget
one dam a friend showed me - it was at least 6-8 feet
high, diverting a stream and creating a pond, and
included (I'm not joking) railroad tie lumber.
Super industrious critters. This was in a nature preserve
about five miles from home and right along side a
track still in use (hence the tie lumber).
I believe they had to dynamite the dam to remove it.
Pity, it was an amazing feat of animal engineering.