My old homestead the Commonwealth of Virginia (first in my heart!) posted this video (about 20 min.) on how to live with the growing black bear population of Virginia. I think it is interesting by itself, but also is applicable to those of us who live near or may encounter black bears.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6LUih6YuBLY

I like the ultimate conclusion: managing bears, easy, managing humans, hard!

When we lived in Virginia, (eastern Loudoun County) we had a couple of young bears show up. We were told that present day planning guidelines that left "green spaces" in and between various new communities were, in effect, like highways for deer and bears to "commute" and wander along, and thus finding their way into various folks back yards.

No one really complained. Nothing like seeing deer or bear in you backyard. I could have done without the skunk though.

Here, we have the highest population of black bears in Canada/USA. The estimate runs from 120,000 up to 160,00 bears and right in our immediate area, we are almost overrun with them. Despite everyone knowing about the bears, every year, many are put down as they become too conditioned to humans who insist on feeding them and by leaving household garbage out which provides easy pickings for the bears.

As you stated so well, "Managing bears, easy, managing humans, hard!"...and I agree.

Last week, I seen on another website that your state .gov may be removing black bears from the protected list. IIRC, this decision should come down on June 27 or 28th.

Where is this?

Here we see the occasional coyote but no bears.

Jeanette Isabelle

Something worth keeping in mind is that we are learning that fatal black bear encounters appear to mainly be the result of predatory males, so being able to recognize predatory (as opposed to curious or defensive) behaviour is important.

Check out this video from Dr. Stephen Herrero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kjuMqCL6kk