We have a large black bear population in Arkansas. When camping in bear country, it is important to take some precautions in regards to food. These include: never putting food in your tent, keeping a clean campsite, cleaning fish away from your campsite, and hanging food in a tree with a rope. Bears are known to break the windows of cars to get inside for food. I have encountered black bears when hiking, but so far haven't had problems with them. I would be much more careful and cautious in grizzly bear country.