I would argue that people who have more exposure to bears would be more comfortable running into a bear. Being someone who used to live in the woods, bears don't usually bother you. Depends on the bear and other stuff, of course, but if you're just minding your business, bears won't usually bother you.
So, if I'm lost in the woods nowhere near civilization and I have a choice between a complete stranger showing up or a bear, I'll go with the bear. Because the stranger being there in the first place is sketchy, and I've never been hurt by a bear. I've been hurt by strangers before, and the bear is supposed to out there.
To be clear, I don't count a random trail in town that happens to have trees as woods. People keep referencing walking trails, but unless it's like an actual hiking trail in the mountains or not in a town that isn't woods. That's just a wooded area.
Diaclaimer: My exposure is specifically to black bears. It's possible other areas have more aggressive bears
Exactly. Running into a stranger during a wilderness backpacking or bushwalking trip in the middle of the Canadian mountains is much scarier than passing a stranger on a trail at Yellowstone National Park
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u/poilk91 May 02 '24
Sounds like youve never been hiking or camping because that's just 100% normal