Yup. Same reason I feel safe hiking in big cat territory. You look like a large predator. Only things that consider a large predator as possible prey will seek conflict--and most of the US has no such animal.

The cats know they would win, but a predator at our size range might injure them and keep them from getting their next meal. Thus it's virtually certain they will not attack--and the news supports this. People get hurt when the animal feels it needs to defend itself.