I'm with you on those bears. I was raised in Modoc County, California. I thought the bears were all gone. But, WOW Sister, what is in the middle of the California State Flag? It's a BEAR!!! And like you I am petrified of them. Dad ended up shooting two bears, not far from the house. It was all legal. It was bear season and he had a license.
Now I live in Indiana and I have cottontails and white fronted squirrels. Much better.