>>692385You get over it and go the fuck /out/side
I live in central British Columbia. Black bears are ubiquitous. Grizzlies are present in the mountains and river valleys not far from where I live. Cougars are around as well and moose can be dangerous if startled or approached in fall.
Forestry/wildlife work usually involves being out in the bush alone or in a pair. Tree planters, timber cruisers, wildlife monitors, site assessors - all these people go into the bush without guns and make it back fine. Some of that work demands that you be in prime bear habitat when they're most active.
In my free time spent /out/ I only have a gun with me 50% of the time. If I'm chasing deer, moose or bear I have a .30-06, but if I'm hunting grouse or hares I have a shotgun loaded with light shot, or a .22. What should I do, carry a second gun? Or if I'm in a provincial park, or on the edge of town limits, where carrying a firearm would be prohibited or highly inappropriate - the bears don't care about the park boundary.
Learn about the dangerous wildlife in your area and how to avoid negative encounters and stop living in fear of everything. You can't control life. You might be crossing the street tomorrow and get smoked by a drunk driver; you might die in an electrical fire. Do you wear a crash helmet? Do you carry a fire extinguisher at all times? If you love being outside, mitigate as much risk as possible, and accept the rest.
