If you are in California or anywhere in the Eastern Time Zone, you don't need to worry too much about black bears as no fatalities have been reported in a century or more (if ever) and most areas have not had a significant injury from a black bear in modern times. Remember that these bears survived centuries of relentless and murderous persecution by becoming meek and non-violent while their more aggressive grizzly cousins were quickly killed off. These Eastern bears have pretty strong instinctive inhibitions against seriously harming a human being. The bears of the Great Smokies National Park are famous for the remarkable restraint they show towards the pesty humans who do stupid things to them and make them perform humilating tricks for handouts. It is not uncommon for a particularly bothersome idiot to get mildly cuffed or nipped like a naughty cub, but it almost never goes beyond this.
Remember that you should NOT touch a bear! This is extremely rude behavior and is the usual reason humans get nipped or cuffed in National Parks. Bears do NOT casually reach out and touch other bears unless they are siblings or close and established friends. Only on rare occasions has a human developed such a close friendship with a wild bear that this was permissible, and the bear initiated contact with the human first by nuzzling or rubbing up against the person. Please respect this primary taboo of bear society.
Also, don't laugh at or ridicule bears. Although it might not seem so on the surface, they are very emotional animals with sensitive feelings and a long memory for insults and kindnesses. Finally, use common sense in your dealings with the bears. Do not hastle or try to intimidate a mother with cubs; back off cautiously instead. If you meet a really big, tough-looking scarred old male on a pathway, and he does NOT feel like getting out of your way, get out of his way instead. You can bet he has earned his status as Lord of the Forest. You cannot go wrong by treating bears with respect.
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