If you dont act threatening they wont attack the only reason they might is if there is a mother with a babyand you get between them but these bears are very pieceful and usually run before attacking I just love to watch them..My husband and I were sitting near our fireplace which is about 10 feet away from the feeders in the picture and being a nice night we were almost snoozing then I looked over and I saw a shadow it was a bear he had snuck down to the feeder right near us but when I spoke to tell my husband I spooked the bear and he left that was a bit scary cause for such a big creature we didnt even hear him