The best advice when you are hiking it bear country is to wear little bells on your clothing and carry some pepper spray. When the bears hear the bells, they will leave the area; if some stay, the pepper spray will drive them away.
However, it is important to know whether the bears are black bears or brown bears. The best way to tell the difference between black bears and brown bears is to examine their scat or droppings.
Black bear droppings will contain squirrel fur, berries, and smell of fish. Brown bear droppings will contain little bells and smell of pepper spray.
Okay, that made me laugh!