My daughter lives in a semi-rural area of Ojai, Kalifornistan.
This morning she let the dog out and went to change the two-year old. She heard a rustling out back near one of the outbuildings about 25 feet away and saw the dog coming back to the house back door. She finished with the baby and let the pooch in. He turned and began alerting out back. Then she noticed a BIG (250lb-300lb) but skinny black bear come lumbering out from behind the shed and head for the door!
She screamed for her hubby who jumped up and grabbed his 9mm Glock
as Mr. Bruin fled from all the noise.
She called the sheriff and then me.
They are avid hunters but the only effective weapon he had available but unloaded and in the closet was his very nice scoped Winchester .270. I reminded her that a 9mm would only piss off the bear.
I told her that the bear might come back so to keep the dog and the baby in the house for a while anyway. I also told her to purchase a Mossy M590 or equivalent and some magnum slugs and 00 buckshot rounds. At first she argued that her rifle would do the trick but I quickly calibrated her on the need for IMMEDIATE STOPPING POWER when engaging a bear. Yes, a well placed shot from te rifle will certainly kill the bear, but in close combat against a bear, nothing beats the trusty 12 ga. Too many stories of hunters being killed by a dead bear walking...
I asked her if they've been having a drought lately and she said that they've had a couple of very dry years and that there isn't much game in the area now and the bears have been reported coming down out of the hills searching for food.
I also reminded her of the guy in our area who shot a bear six times a few weeks ago when the bear came BACK to his house and tried to get in and join him at supper...after first coming to the porch earlier that evening then leaving. When the guy called the sheriff, they asked if the bear had gone and to forget about it. Well...the bear returned, tried to bust in and got shot for his troubles.
She's scared now...and a 12ga shotty purchase is in the offing.