bear are very rare? they are like oversized raccoons and hardly rare at all. the reason people don't see more bear is most retain a cautious fear of humans. bear are a diffuse species, a top land predator, and not like a herd animal.
i see bears all the time. i've seen them on beaches, on roads, in the woods, near peoples houses...... riding a bike lets you literally sneak up on animals like bear.
I've ridden up on one once trotting along on a gravel road. back in the 80s I almost HIT another one foraging on berries on a fire road in montana. i was coming downhill at speed around a blind corner on a fire road up in the gallatin wilderness, and whoot!
i personally believe that bear use backcountry roads like we do, as highways across the wilderness for easy travel versus the bushthwack when they are convenient. a bear will use a road, as a road, for part of the regular working of their territory.
Last edited by Bekologist; 06-05-10 at 10:28 AM.