"Okay, I'd take my pear-stealing squirrel over your bear any day. Somehow the loss of a few pears isn't so bad. Todah"
Todah,
Black bears aren't the worst bear to have at hand. Unless someone has been feeding them (yes, there are people just that stupid), they're usually shy. Even most "problem" black bears can be chased off by just banging a couple of pot lids together.
Now squirrels, they are a problem. Even the feral cats that hang out in our garage get beat up by the squirrels (and that's no lie either).