I just don't understand how people can say "They more afraid of us than we are of them". If anything that creates a misconception that you have no reason to fear them.
Wild animals, if hungry, will attack and eat us too just as they would any other typical prey.
The fact is, black bears are not primary predators. They will usually retreat if they hear you coming. They are mostly scavengers and vegetarians. Much different than being in grizzly country.
This was not a short and spontanteous attack, it was prolonged and involved different 'acts' of attack. First the little boy, the mother fought it off, along with other adults, but the mother was drug down the trail, and then, the girl, apparently got seperated from everyone else, and was attacked in another location.
I'm wondering what the incidence of rabies is in this area and whether it's possible that's what's going on here???
As far as them "eating us"....they aren't carnivores, as a general rule. Black bears prefer berries and acorns and get most of their protein from eating grubs in hollow logs or under rocks.
Black bears have been known to eat meat if their food supply is dwindling and they find a mountain lion kill, but that's pretty rare. They "ARE" opportunists.
But a Grizzlie or Polar Bear would not only kill you, but have you for supper, too.
And, I would advocate that anybody hiking in bear country either be armed with pepper spray or a gun.
I've seen bears get shot just for loping across somebody's property.
Some of the killing of them is absolutely senseless.