Oh geez...I can't decide whether I'm more concerned that you have to carry a bear whistle...or amused that this is common enough that you own a bear whistle already.
It's mainly just as a standard workplace safety precaution thing. I'll probably never need to use it. ;p
Not that black bears can't be dangerous especially if they have cubs around, but I was a tad worried you'd be dealing with something more dangerous like some types of brown bears such as grizzly's. I recently watched a documentary called "Grizzly Man" about the unfortunate Timothy Treadwell incident, and I suppose it's made me a little paranoid on the subject of bears. Then again I doubt you're actually going out into the wilderness trying to live among the bears . . still, have you considered carrying bear mace as well just in case ?
Ah. Yeah, nothing like that. But a few years ago, in my area, at a workplace similar to mine, somebody was killed by a black bear. So, there's been a lot of emphasis on bear safety and such. (I don't know the details of that incident. The person was probably trying to pet it or something ridiculous like that. But it's still pretty yikes.)
Bear spray isn't allowed at my worksite (though I thiiink the wildlife safety patrol team might be permitted to carry it). It's whistles and air horns only. '3'b