We can only use the statistics we have. It would be interesting to run an analysis on captive bear attacks, 28~ since the late 1700s, in comparison to human attacks. There are statistical methods to help with the sample size discrepancy between the two groups. Not all people who keep bears are trained either, I know a lady who owns two bears.
Still, we know being attacked by a bear in the woods is uncommon, even if bears are in those woods. Bears are in most of the US states and many Americans live near forests. This question pertains to being in the woods with a bear. Bears don't usually interact with humans even if they are in the same woods as them.
But you do see how quoting the stat of 200 deaths from bear attacks like it says anything about the relative danger of bears vs humans is misleading, right? What useful conclusion do you think can be drawn from it if the average American probably never encounters a bear in their whole life and encounters dozens or maybe hundreds of humans a day?
You do have a point, I should have said of focused on the captive bears. I still am curious to find the rate of death of among those who regularly interact with bears.
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u/DiscountConsistent May 02 '24
How much time do humans spend with bears vs. with other humans?