>>222903>How do I get rid of my (ir)rational fear of bears attacking me at night?Bears generally don't want anything to do with you. I have an uncle that works with animal control (? not sure what the international job title would be) and basically keeps an eye on local animal populations.. he actively looks for bear and it's a hassle finding them.
Bears will get curious about any chance to get easy meals though. This is why you don't want to leave garbage around your camp site, ideally not cook or gut fish around it, nor leave smelly foodstuff in a pack close to it.
The easy way to store shit out of bear range is to hoist it up in a tree with some paracord.
You seem to be scared in general of being outdoors, that passes as you get more comfortable with the experience. Camp more. Bring some bear spray so YOU feel safer. Have something that makes loud noise - they don't like that.
I spent summers in a small farmhouse in the woods and we'd see bears every now and again, the "worst" of it was a bear digging up the potato patch to which grandma opened the window and banged some pots together, upon which the bear shuffled off looking scared.
