Vodno is a favorite spot for recreation among Skopje residents - but the mountain isn't just a walking trail. On one of the paths, near Nerezi and Gorno Krushopek, a bear was spotted, and hiking associations are warning recreationists to be careful. A reminder that the mountain has its own residents, who were there before us.

The appearance of bears in the region isn't unusual, especially in summer when they roam greater distances in search of food. But Vodno isn't home to bears alone - wild boar, roe deer, red deer, wolves, foxes and a range of other animals live there too. In other words, when you set off for a walk, you enter their space, not the other way around.

This isn't a call for panic, but for common sense. Before heading up Vodno in the coming days, get informed about the situation on the ground, stay on the marked trails, don't leave food and litter that attract animals, and respect the recommendations of the authorities. An encounter with a bear is rare, but not impossible - and knowing how to behave is the difference between an incident and a peaceful walk.

In a broader sense, this is also a story about the line between city and nature that is increasingly being erased. As we expand toward the mountains, we meet their residents ever more often. The question isn't how to drive the wild animals off Vodno - they're at home there. The question is how we, the guests, can learn to share the space with them without fear, but also without carelessness.