Read GWA's comments and make the following counter points.
I don't claim to be an expert, but can point you to one. He happens to be my cousin. Here is the quote from his website "Bear with Us"
http://www.bearwithus.org/human-bear3.htm
"Full-blown attacks by black bears are rare. Black bears attacks are usually not at campgrounds and are usually not by black bears that are familiar with people. Recorded killings by black bears this century total only about 34 across North America. Most of these killings were unprovoked acts of predation. How likely is a black bear to be a killer? The 500,000 black bears in North America kill fewer than one person per 3 years, on the average, despite hundreds of thousands of encounters. To put this in perspective, for each death from a black bear across North America, there are approximately 17 deaths from spiders, 25 deaths from snakes, 67 deaths from dogs, 150 deaths from tornadoes, 180 deaths from bees and wasps, 374 deaths from lightning, and 90,000 homicides in the United States alone (data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 1980-1983). In the rare event of one of these attacks, the best defense is to fight with fists, feet, rocks, or anything hard. Playing dead is usually not the best action with black bears.
Unlike grizzly bear mothers, black bear mothers seldom attack people in defense of cubs. Black bear mothers typically bluff or retreat. Researchers who routinely capture cubs by chasing them up trees have not been attacked even when they have held the screaming cubs. The ferocity of mother black bears is one of the biggest misconceptions about this species."
Credits - University of Minnesota
Several years ago now, Mike attended a family wedding which I also attended. A group of us listened with intense fasination and respect to hear his first hand field experiences with black bears. I have since received his video footage in the field (in Russia and in Canada). He has used the types of techniques i described in the field (with wild bears). This is a person who has litterally travelled across the world and lived it! Mike has travelled to Kamchatka Russia and his presence was noted in "Grizzly Heart" by Charlie Russel.
http://www.avachabay.com/grizzlyheart.htm
So, you can choose what to believe. Personally, I put my money with the guy who has the experience in the field, not some fact based web site that may have it's own motives.
To use an old (dog training) phrase: "When the tailgate drops, the Bull_t stops!!
Diane
P.S Timothey Treadwell was killed by a Grizzly , not a black bear. I urge you to read more about the circumstances of his death and as I suggested watch the movie if you want to get a more balanced view from a variety of perspectives. Also their is much posted on the internet from Grizzly experts such as Charlie Russel. Their is a widely opposing camps to this persons death and I have my own views.