I wouldn't call it wierd, I mean seems like a hard npc to implement. I think bears shouldn't be easy enemies but they also should be the hardest and where would they even fit in the game?

Maybe instead of deer in the blackforest?

Maybe they could be an extra npc in the mountains? Maybe as the introductory neutral character instead of dverger being the first neutral npcs you come across.

Maybe the could populate the mountain crags in mistlands?

Maybe they'll be in far north? Along with seals, penguins and a slew of magical beings needing their heads bashed in.