Bobert, my favorite "bear story" comes from the Lewis & Clark journal of that little jaunt they took up the Mizoo and to points west. These were easterners, a lot of them, from the more settled side of the Mississippi. They may have had experience in the more "rural", remote areas of their parts of this country. We're talkin' pre-1810. They had hunted bear (black) for years, to eat as well as to protect themselves and their communities. They were armed with state-of-the-art firepower, and when they reached Grizzly country and began running into those critters, they were extremely interested in the beasts. One of the recorders of the trip noted the initial fascination, but also -- after discovering how little effect their magnificent ballistics had on the bears -- how quickly their curiousity was satisfied!!!
Good health to you and yours, and keep us up to date with sightings, and interesting stuff you learn about living in that country.   Tw