rather run into a bear

I wouldn't wish the experience nor hearing it on anyone, but if someone is stupid enough to say this they need to hear just what happens when this takes place.

Bears don't wait for you to be dead before they start eating you, and their jaws are powerful enough to tear through flesh and bone easily and quickly enough before shock kicks in and you pass out from that and/or blood loss.

There are recorded phonecalls of this happening to people because they are still conscious and capable of dialing their phone to get their last words to relatives.

It really, really is a horrible way to die, and also happens to serve as a counter to groups like PETA when they complain about animals being slaughtered, seeing as how the natural approach often involves absolute terror on the part of the prey.