Black bears (the only bears found east of the rockies) don't attack humans unless you stumble upon a mother with cubs. They will scavenge food from a camp site but not while you're awake and making noise. If youre storing food outside string up a bear bag. If you do happen to interact with one make a lot of noise, make yourself look large and back away (don't turn your back to them).
I've stood 10 ft from a 350lb black bear and it didn't give a shit about me. They kill about 1 person a year (and much less in recent history).