Actually, the last time we went in this area, we saw one of your kindred. A grand black bear all shiny and fat in the fall... He stood motionless on a log while we passed, probably 50-60 yards away... I expected that he would go splashing off through the bog and frighten the horses, but he didn't, and I don't think they saw him.
We don't freak about ticks here. I have rarely ever even seen them. Maybe it is too wet in the winter for them to thrive here?