I don't know what it is about people and black bears. In 40 years I have done a lot of back packing and camping in the norteast. In that time I have personally seen two bears and some sign. A few friends have had their camps raided and that was related to the way they stored their food. Heaving stones at the creature turned it away. No one I know was injured by a bear. I have also spent time in the Canadian Rockies and seen Mr. Grizz there close at hand but not in a threatening way. I have never carried a gun into the wilderness because I didn't need it. My biggest concerns in the backcountry are the weather, good water and keeping the damn mice and squirrels out of my food. We don't have any dangerous snakes.
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