Chuck Bartlebaugh works with grizzly bear managers, studies all the bear incident reports and is an expert on keeping people safe from bear attacks. Human pepper spray is more potent than dog spray, because dogs have a much more sensitive nose than humans. Why should I carry dog spray? If you are in "Bear Country" keep any food items well away from where you intend to sleep. A charging bear can cover 30 feet in less than a second. Reply. The different products just vary in their ability to work better than others. It is unclear what the woman was researching in the area. Well, bears have this annoying habit of turning up in odd places. Recommendation: given these guidelines, and paying close attention to price, strength, and performance, our top recommendation is Frontiersman Bear Spray. How does ODFW determine if a loss is caused by wolves and not by some other cause? But that does not stop a stupid person from driving a car, and most CERTAINLY, will not stop a stupid person from spraying his bear spray into the wind, or dropping it in his tent or into the fire, or testing it on friends that may have asthma and die, etc… Please check your stats on how often this happens then multiply it by 20. Our Yellowstone Forever Institute Senior Naturalist, Brad Bulin, recently talked with us about why bear spray is the most effective bear deterrent as well as when and how to use it. Research has shown bear spray to be twice as effective as firearms in preventing injury in the rare event of a grizzly attack. Does Bear Spray Work? ), weather, disease and injury. Is Bear Spray Harmful to Humans? This is where McDonald did the wrong thing. And even on a man. To avoid risk of injury to yourself, do not attempt to break up a physical fight between a wolf and a dog accept by using bear spray or a powerful hose from a safe distance. Bear spray, on the other hand, disperses in a wide fog, which means that the person spraying it does not need to have accurate aim for it to still be effective. But is bear spray also effective against other animals that might attack, such as dogs? Bear sprays can be effective deterrents against bear attacks and are recommended by many survival experts. Protector dog spray is the maximum heat allowed by the EPA. He encourages people to hike in groups in bear country, keep food and trash away from bears and always carry bear spray. That isn't known. Probably not effective for what you’re planning. Do you carry bear spray out hiking in bear country? In other words, does bear spray work on an angry or hungry bear compared to a bear that's just nearby? Number one! This will leave them smelling like pumpkin pie. The trick is hitting a very agile, fast-moving animal if it decides to attack. The Concept – How Much You Need – How to Use It . You can directly help protect Yellowstone’s bears by sponsoring a bear box. They are also non-lethal self-defense tools so they can be used safely against bears without fear of permanently harming them. Protection from other animal attacks sometimes requires less planning. Casey Anderson travels to Washington State University to find out. I had a dog that used to bite holes in the cans of bear spray anytime she could get hold of one. It is made from the natural chemical Oleoresin Capsicum taken from very hot peppers and is endorsed by the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation. If the wolf does not retreat and is acting aggressive by holding its tail high, raising its hackles, barking or howling, you should yell and throw things at it while continuing to back away. 100% Bear Urine - deter dogs, horses, and wolves with the bear scents below. Answer: Yes, bear spray works, but bear-attack authority Dr. Stephen Herrero says, “Don’t bet your life on it.” Which means don’t think all you need to do is strap on a canister of Bear Mace and you’re good to go. 99 (6) View Wishlist Added to Wishlist Sabre Wild MAX Bear Spray, 225-g, 2-pk $79. 99 (8) View Wishlist Added to Wishlist Sabre Frontiersman Belt Holster, 225-g $9. Excerpt. We’ve got three choices here. In the wild, you must be constantly aware of your surroundings, Day and Night. How does capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers, and compressed air combine to affect a grizzly bear's olfactory and nervous system? We frequently bike to a nearby pond to watch a pair of trumpeter swans raise their signets each summer and have taken bear spray with us since the day a black bear with cubs crossed the road ahead of us. MY EYES!! How bear spray works. Bear deterrent is quite like pepper spray, in fact, you could go as far as to say that it is a special type of pepper spray designed to work against bears. Is bear spray really 98 percent effective? Help Protect Yellowstone’s Bears . Counter Assault is $49.50 for an 8.1 ounce can. No bear deterrent is 100% effective: learn how to reduce your risk while hiking in bear country. It isn't clear if there are conditions under which bear spray fails; wind doesn't seem to be a factor, but the disposition of said bruin might be. Joerg Koch/Getty Images. Bear spray typically can shoot farther than human pepper spray and also often has a wider affected area. Sure, cats have very sensitive noses, so that will work. Specific bear spray products are typically more effective when they’re regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, but most products have the ability to work when deterring bears. Does Bear Spray work better than regular pepper spray? 99 (3) View Wishlist Added to Wishlist Sabre Dog Deterrent Pink Case Spray $13. Many people who work in grizzly country have traded in their firearms for bear spray because it is easier to carry and aim in dense brush. Think about your lifestyle and what types of dangers you might encounter on a regular day. The main point is to keep yourself protect at all times, no matter where you are. It should be understood, however, that the absolute risk from bears — even in grizzly (brown bear) country — is so low that bear spray cannot much decrease that risk. Bear Spray Demonstration and Safety Tips. Does Bear Spray Really Work? Spray into the wind and you spray yourself. It isn't terribly effective. Bear Urine 12 oz - 33 Day Dispenser Combo. In my opinion, not only is it a naive, cavalier and arrogant statement, but a very immature one at that. Dec 1, 2016 - Does wasp spray really work for self defense? Domestic animals can die for a variety of reasons, including predation (wolf, cougar, coyote, bear, domestic dog, etc. Officials said she initially encountered one wolf and she use bear spray on it but it was not effective. Is nature’s own terms leaving bear spray behind? Pepper spray is a self defense weapon intended to incapacitate human threats, and it is very effective at doing this due to its higher concentration of oleoresin capsicum. Make sure your bear spray is EPA-approved: don't depend on personal defense products to stop a charging bear. … Click here to find out and be safe. What IS known is that a gun does work in those circumstances. The effective range varies from 18 to 30 feet, depending on the product you choose. It burns the eyes and noses of bears that walk into the mist sprayed from the container. August 2019. The bear then attacked, and started working on McDonald’s leg. I have tried to use it on a dog and on bears. Sabre Wild Bear Spray, 225-g $47. Hayden Valley July 2, 2011 Lucky to be Alive. Do not use bear spray like insect repellent. Chemical mace is a very powerful irritant. Manufacturers say their sprays work best at about half the maximum distance. These natural dog deterrents are also very effective to stop horses and even wolves! The bear-spray research included nine brown bear charges where the spray was successful at stopping the charge three times. While no deterrent is 100 percent effective in all situations, research and actual use has proven that bear spray can be an effective deterrent against advancing bears. Bear pepper spray causes the membranes of the eyes, nose and lungs of a bear to swell and the result is a nearly total, yet temporary, loss of sight and severe restriction of breathing. Pepper spray has been used successfully on numerous occasions to ward off bear attacks. 49 (3) View Wishlist Added to Wishlist Bear Bell $5. What is bear pepper spray? Article by Outside Magazine. It turns out, things are much more complicated. Number two! Yes. Bear spray represents an effective alternative to lethal force and should be considered as an option for personal safety for those recreating and working in bear country." If you can afford the $45 or so, the spray is added insurance. First is that bear spray works up to a point. If hunters used sprays as a bear deterrent the bears would stay alive, plus "they would know that this red-hot spray stuff will be really nasty and to avoid it … Bears are smart,” said Brian Peck of the Great Bear Foundation. Bear spray isn’t a safety net, it’s a last resort. Bear spray has a much lower concentration of oleoresin capsicum, and should only be used as a bear deterrent. Or does it also mean taking no modern man made technologies with you when you go explore the wilderness. Bear spray is safe, easy to use, and studies show that it's the best defense against an attacking bear -- even better defense than a gun. A friend of mine nearly lost a leg spraying a bear, Point Blank, with the stuff. You really don't want a bear that close. Bear spray is made of very hot peppers ground up and forced from a pressurized container. Advertisement. It does not work as a deterrent when applied to people or equipment. If you are serious about self defense, go purchase some pepper spray. It is kinder than the more potent brands. Jerry all of the EPA approved and registered bear sprays will work at below zero temps, albeit, they may spray a shorter distance, but currently all of the EPA registered sprays are formulated from oils and there is nothing in them that will freeze solid in extreme temps. MY EYES!! If you don’t ever camp or hike, chances are you need human pepper spray. The aerosol can shoots bursts of atomized capsaicin (a red pepper derivative) up to eight metres, though the spray is most effective at short range. Guard Alaska Bear spray is an EPA registered bear deterrent that is so effective, it is registered as a deterrent against ALL species of bear, from brown bears to polar bears. Bear spray isn't unlike pepper spray that humans use to protect themselves from other humans. I dont trust it at all. At this point in the attack it was too late to think about bear spray and moving only forced the bear to re-attack. Wind and/or rain shorten the effective distance. How to Deploy Bear Spray . Milder products like Halt and Dog Shield are not EPA-approved as bear spray, but these products have consistently worked on all the bears Ely researchers sprayed. The myth that pepper spray doesn't work is quite popular among a certain segment of the population, but a recent analysis of 83 incidents of use of bear spray ( "Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska" ) showed it to be highly effective. 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