If you are traveling in the mountains of Northeastern Tennessee and see a road sign that says “Bearfield Road,” believe it.

This really is the road through a field of bears. You know what bears are – those big hairy creatures from cartoons and nursery rhymes. Well, yes, this is just what it says, so be careful.

Much of this territory is the deep woods of the Tennessee National Forest and is quite beautiful. The bears were here before humans decided to build their homes in the area.

More Nina:Protecting the most vulnerable

And:Nina Gilfert | From the Porch Steps: Living on a Tennessee mountain

These are not the bears from your children's books. These bears are real. They live their natural bear lives in big furry bear suits in the woods and will maul you if you give them reason.

They don't really look for you in the hopes of running you down. They would just as soon not meet you at all. If they attack it is because they are afraid you might hurt their children or get in the way of their eating.

Yes, they like to eat what you like to eat so will raid your garbage can if at all possible.  The cities provide garbage cans for the residents that don't have locks on them so the bears are in bear heaven because they can raid your garbage with impunity.

A few months ago I lived in Florida, where there are bears that live the same way and love your garbage. When I moved here to live with my oldest son and his wife I learned about bears.

I was curious and a little nervous to live next to a dense forest where bears roam. Fortunately the bears are just as curious about you and they don't want to run into you either, but it happens.

My friend Bill lives in a country setting in Florida where they are tearing out the trees and putting up housing. This means the bears there are trying to learn to live in a smaller and smaller wooded area and occasionally interfere with the new human residents. I am sure the bears see it the other way around.

This part of Tennessee is a beautiful place to live and my daughter-in-law loves it here. We have a deck in the enclosed lawn area that is all surrounded by deep woods with trees towering over 40 feet tall.

We like to sit there most all year round. Tom and Linda have planted a vegetable garden, which they protect from the natural inhabitants with a stone wall and wire enclosure. The animals love the lettuce and the beans and the tomatoes. Sometimes the bears find their way in by accident.

We sometimes have our early morning coffee on the deck, and in the evening it is very pleasant there as the sun goes down. This time of year when the trees are all in leaf you cannot see beyond them. You are completely enclosed in green except for the blue sky above.

In the winter when the leaves fall it opens up a whole new vista and you can see for miles across the valley to the next string of mountains.

'Just a great day':Leesburg, Boys & Girls Club host ribbon cutting for new teen center

Gator tale:Leesburg police and local driver rescue alligator stuck on a US 441 median

Tom and I were sitting there one evening when we saw a bear come out of the woods and over the fence. Tom, all 5 foot 6 of him, jumped down off the porch and chased him out of the yard gate by yelling at him.

They are somewhat afraid of humans because of the guns that have been shot at them. You don't see them much during the day. They prefer to roam at night or in the very early morning hours.

This is an area where people love to go camping in the wild woods. It is relatively safe but you must keep any food items secure from the bears or they will invade your camp sight.

You also don't want to challenge them, as they are much larger and stronger than most humans. They can weigh over 300 pounds. That's a lot of muscle to be coming at you if it is mad or afraid of you.

Tom and Linda keep chickens for the eggs. They sell or give away what eggs they can't use themselves. The chicken enclosure is a large area with a pond in the middle. It looks to me like chicken heaven.

A domestic turkey has insinuated himself on the flock and tries to boss them around, but the chickens don't pay any attention to his posturing. He looks rather silly strutting around among the docile hens.

This part of Tennessee is a beautiful place to live. Though it is very inconvenient to have to drive 25 miles to the grocery store, it makes you feel far away from the scary world we see on television news reports.

Nina Gilfert can be reached at ngporch@gmail.com.