They are generally non-aggressive, but there was a recent killing of a camper by a black bear (dragging the victim from a tent) that bore out that they can be dangerous. I've seen quite a few up-close over the years in the Pacific Northwest, my work took me out into the woods and we often co-habited in clear cut units, each keeping an eye on the location of the other. But I won't make the mistake of thinking they're harmless. They're not. But they are very interesting. The tree marking and such is typcial bear behavior, you're not going to import one that isn't destructive in that way, they all tend to do it.

SRS