When we lived in Virginia, (eastern Loudoun County) we had a couple of young bears show up. We were told that present day planning guidelines that left "green spaces" in and between various new communities were, in effect, like highways for deer and bears to "commute" and wander along, and thus finding their way into various folks back yards.

No one really complained. Nothing like seeing deer or bear in you backyard. I could have done without the skunk though.