I’ve ran into bears in the woods and so far nothing violent has happened.
I’ve also ran into men in the woods (like literally almost every time I go out, not rarely like the bears) and most often the entire interaction is “hey,” “howya doin,” and we keep walking down our paths. On a rare occasion, these men have offered weed, or smoked with me some weed I’ve offered them. And so far nothing violent has happened.
Make of that what you will. Seems to me like in both situations you’ll likely be fine and working yourself into an irrationally scared frenzy over men OR bears based on the rare chance something could happen is maybe not the best for you. Tbh, if you’re that worried about it, buy a gun and carry it when you’re in bear- or man- country, and then if one of those rare things does happen, while it isn’t a get out of bear free card, you’ll at least have a chance to fight back.
Having spent a lot of time in the woods:
I’ve ran into bears in the woods and so far nothing violent has happened.
I’ve also ran into men in the woods (like literally almost every time I go out, not rarely like the bears) and most often the entire interaction is “hey,” “howya doin,” and we keep walking down our paths. On a rare occasion, these men have offered weed, or smoked with me some weed I’ve offered them. And so far nothing violent has happened.
Make of that what you will. Seems to me like in both situations you’ll likely be fine and working yourself into an irrationally scared frenzy over men OR bears based on the rare chance something could happen is maybe not the best for you. Tbh, if you’re that worried about it, buy a gun and carry it when you’re in bear- or man- country, and then if one of those rare things does happen, while it isn’t a get out of bear free card, you’ll at least have a chance to fight back.