This booklet is a rock bottom sysnopsis on what one needs to know about the black bear if you plan to spend time in their environment.  The best advice is to acquire an extensive natural history of the creatures you fear, such as cougars, grizzlies and wolverines.  That is, read all the books you can find on the subject until one day you have just read another book on handling any encounters and you have learned nothering new.  You will then hopefully have acquire the knowledge you need to choose the best reaction to the situation at hand.  Does it sould like a lot of bother?  Well, it is your skin.