While I agree with you, it is only natural to be afraid or cautious around something that, you have no control over, and that has the ability to kill you. Granted it is uncommon. However the article cited only list killings, not maulings, or aggresive bears that were run off with spray or firearms.Please... if you do not do things like clean your fish and leave the guts smeared all over a rock in your camp site, and if you properly hang your food, black bears are simply not an issue compared to... ticks.
Why people are so afraid of black bears is a complete mystery to me. Don't leave food out or around, don't get between mama and the cubs. Give respect, it's a wild animal, not a pet. Follow those rules and you're good to go.
Now, shooting a black bear out of season because it's tearing up your camp that you left food out in... you're in big trouble. Black bears are not aggressive. People leave food around and they are not dumb, they raid camps, trash cans, bust open cars to get meat sandwiches... because people trained them where the easy food is. Not the animal's fault.
That said, I like the Ruger LCRx 3" in .38 Special (rated for +p) as a woods bumming gun. Its a small light 5 shot revolver that's just plain handy and fun and can take a dunking in the water if you fall in without stressing you out.
I've had Lyme disease. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I hadn't noticed the initial tick because it was on my back in a weird spot. I remember getting very sick. I went to two different doctors who missed it entirely and misdiagnosed my symptoms as "just a virus". One was my primary care and another was an ER doc...between 1993 and 2003 there were 114 recorded deaths due to ticks. Lymes disease is no joke, even if it doesn't kill you.
Black bears? In the continental US from 1900 to today, 67 people have been killed by black bears.
When I see a bear in the woods, I am respectful and think "Okay.. cool." When I see a tick, I kill it with fire and still have the creepy-itchies for the rest of the day.
I'm glad someone else said it first.Black bears are not hard to kill!
Yep. Lyme disease is your greatest risk.
Why people are so afraid of black bears is a complete mystery to me. Don't leave food out or around, don't get between mama and the cubs. Give respect, it's a wild animal, not a pet. Follow those rules and you're good to go.