I have to contribute my opinion on an article titled, “Bear tracks in New Jersey” run in the Perspective section of the Sun Journal (Dec. 28).

The sentence introducing the article read, “The encroachment of wild animals into urban and suburban environments demonstrates need for management.”

Not long ago, however, the areas that we now consider urban and suburban were the wild homes of these animals. I agree that we must develop a plan for coexisting with wild animals in our backyard, but we must also remember that our development of the land is what has driven them into “human” environments.

People share this earth with many other creatures, and we all depend on each other for survival. As society determines how we handle the changes we have made to the landscape, I hope for two things. First, may we always respect the beauty of animals and remember their vulnerability to our actions. My second hope is that we will make an effort to utilize vacant buildings and abandoned spaces in our urban and suburban areas, rather than develop ever-shrinking rural land.

Evelyn Duplissis, Lewiston