Actually, that's backwards - it was a black bear. Alaska-type brown bears do not exist in California and the Grizzlies were killed off by the settlers.
If old Carl had punched a brown bear, he would be missing an arm. :)
An arm would be the only thing left of him.
Indeed! But California bears are not black. They are brown. And can be very mean. Just another variety of the Eastern Black Bear?
A friendlier encounter with a family of black bears. :^) This was in British Columbia.
http://www.chonday.com/Videos/baybearcigolf2