All this talk about fearing bears makes me wonder. I have seen so many black bears, I could not even count 'em.
All these people wanting bear protection- have you ever actually seen a black bear?
My comments are different if you live in Alaska or are out west packing out elk meat. Then the pistol question is obvious. Have a big rifle and a couple of watchful friends.
I like the Bersa Thunder a lot for woods walking, but it throws the brass into the weeds. I got the Ruger LCRx in .38 and 3" barrel as my woods gun. I wish it was 4" for the better sight radius. I shoot tin cans, pine cones, and spent shotgun shells I find in the trail. I pack out the trash I find, after I make sure it's dead. 4" is a nice length for a woods revolver.
Animals just don't scare me. I was glad to see a couple of Grizzlies in Wyoming at about a mile distance. We got out of there, because a mile is pretty close at the speed a grizzly can run. Not scared, just being smart. Even with a .444 marlin, I would still not feel safe against a grizzly, all alone.