[Ichneumon]

Bears are basically shy and avoid humans unless humans move into bear country and leave food out to attract bears.

Boy on Alaska Expedition for Troubled Youths Successfully Fights off Brown Bear Attack

Russian Bear Expert Is Killed in the Wild -

Dog killed by bear this A.M. January First at about 9:00 A.M

Man who fought off bear with knife awarded Carnegie Medal

Black bear sightings on the rise (more on FReeper's son and dog attack)

Man survives bear attack, but not without scars

Polar bear kills last villager

Man Uses Duct Tape for Bear Attack Wounds

Bear Expert and Companion Killed in Bear Attack at Alaska Park ( New View on Old Story )

[Lil'freeper]

Excellent list. But may we all note the variety of bear species. They are not all equally aggressive. Although it is not a teddy bear, the black bear is the least threatening. In its natural environment a black bear *is* shy and tends to flee, if not ignore, humans.

That being said, the areas where black bears are becoming 'problems' are no longer the bears' natural environment and therefore the population must be managed. Better to shoot a few than to let the larger population starve or become hated or feared for the damage they do as nuisances.