Glad everything worked out and everyone was safe! Bear encounters are pretty common here. I have a huge garden, tons of berry bushes, fruit trees, 18 chickens and a compost pile. I had one picking apples off my apple tree about a week ago. They love my house. I have let the dog out a few times first thing in the morning and she has chased one off. It makes me nervous but luckily none of them have stood their ground yet.
A Jframe is certainly at the very least a good noise maker. I would assume it would at least scare one away. I hope that in a pinch that my SP101 would be good enough for the small black bears around here.
Rita's name actually had to do with her looking like a bear and having a stern disposition and not any interactions with bears. I don't think she ever saw one in her life. I didn't live here then.
Sorry for going so far off topic. Bring on that Military!