Just a foot note on bears and the danger they may or may not pose.

We probably should not assume all the bears are healthy and acting normally. A couple of years ago a Maryland family was attacked in their home by a rabid bear. Not a thought that is pleasant to consider, and I doubt bear spray and making a commotion would deter it. The family that was attacked had to use a shotgun. This is a link to one news report about the incident:
http://www.wtop.com/?sid=1239758&nid=25

The family all had to undergo anti-rabies treatment. On the bright side, they were not charged with a wildlife violation even though the bear was out of season. (really-- its in the article).

According to this news report, rabid bears have been confirmed in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Canada.