I still think the number might be off, or he might think they are predatory when they are being defensive.
Black bears have killed 61 people across North America since 1900. This no longer worries me. My chances of being killed by a domestic dog, bees, or lightning are vastly greater. My chances of being murdered are 60,000 times greater. One of the safest places a person can be is in the woods.
That averages to just under 3 fatalities a year, when millions of people go into the backcountry or live near bear habitat. 26 people get killed by dogs every year, and 90 people are killed every year by lightning.
http://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/trail-news/ask-a-bear-how-many-bear-attacks-really-2/
Bear attacks are extremely rare.[1][2][3] Attacks are for predatory, territorial, or protective reasons.[4] Most wilderness attacks have occurred when there was only one to two persons in the vicinity, and no attacks have ever been recorded against groups of six or more.[5][6]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America