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in the lower 48, Black Bears are not much of an issue unless you kick a cub, other than that they typically want to avoid humans just as much you want to avoid them. I can tell you they can smell you if the wind conditions are right up to 1/2 mile away, no problem, even if your a hunter with scent free laundry, deodorant etc...
We have encountered 7 black bears on 1 hike, and after I had a juvenile bear cross behind us, we slowly walked back to the trailhead.
sidenote:
Old Forge Bear Tragedy
This is a very sad story about a bear...
Everybody should heed the warnings not to feed wildlife because they become dependent and don't forage for themselves any longer. It is such a tragedy to see what has been done to our country's wildlife. The photo below captures a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect U.S. wildlife.
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Animals that formerly were self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democrat Party. They have apparently learned to just sit and wait for the government to step in and provide for their care and sustenance. This photo is of a black bear in Old forge turned Democrat. He's nicknamed Bearack Obearma. It is believed that he has become a campground organizer.