Last year in the Uintas, they were requiring everyone to hang their food. I am sure that is the requirement this year as well. There are definitely black bear there, although I have never seen one there. There are also rumors of a few grizzly that wandered in from Wyoming. The Wasatch and Uintas are filled with cougars and moose. I am more scared of moose than cougar. I have seen cougar tracks in the Uintas, but never a cougar. I have only seen 2 moose so far. I always bring bear spray.
Having a fear of animals is natural. Just don't let it consume you. Practice safe animal avoidance techniques, and you will be fine. I think bringing a dog helps in this regard. Usually people stop worrying about it as they gain more experience. If you need to always bring a friend, then I would say do it.
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:
Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!