I agree with you Snow_dog.  

I have been traveling in canoe country for over 20 years, and last year was the first time I encountered a bear.  By no accident, it happened on BWCA's Polly Lake...definitely the kind of high-use area that grows habituated bears!  

One bear in over 20 years...not a bad average.  Largely I think because I've spent most of my canoe time in Quetico, Woodland Caribou, and Wabikimi.  

I thought it was unfortunate that Jacobson, in his lecture at 'copia, never alluded to this fact. The room was packed.  Obviously the idea of bears and the fear of bears is a big draw, and sells books.  To his credit, Jacobson did say the only bear issues he's had have been in Skaskatchewan, or was it in Manitoba? (I'm not sure.)

I used to work with a black bear scientist, who liked to tell people that they have way, way more of a chance of being killed by bees than by bears.  

prouboy