Learn all about bears and bear behavior at a monthly “Green Drinks” social at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Rathskellar Coffee House in Frankin.

Green Drinks is a meeting of area conservationists. This gathering will highlight a Bear Story Telling Contest, judged by Cynthia Strain, co-founder of B.E.A.R. (Bear Education and Resources) in Highlands.

Winning stories, bear photos, and relevant newspaper articles will be posted on the B.E.A.R. website. Other prizes include a framed picture of the B.E.A.R. logo from Mill Creek Gallery and Framing in Highlands and a Western North Carolina Alliance T-shirt. Strain will give a brief presentation on the growing frequency and challenges of human interaction with bears — with a focus on “peaceful co-existence.”

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