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. If you don’t ever camp or hike, chances are you need human pepper spray. Casey Anderson travels to Washington State University to find out. In other words, does bear spray work on an angry or hungry bear compared to a bear that's just nearby? Well, bears have this annoying habit of turning up in odd places. A friend of mine nearly lost a leg spraying a bear, Point Blank, with the stuff. That isn't known. August 2019. In the wild, you must be constantly aware of your surroundings, Day and Night. Bear spray can explode if it reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit. No bear deterrent is 100% effective: learn how to reduce your risk while hiking in bear country. He encourages people to hike in groups in bear country, keep food and trash away from bears and always carry bear spray. And even on a man. 100% Bear Urine - deter dogs, horses, and wolves with the bear scents below. They are also non-lethal self-defense tools so they can be used safely against bears without fear of permanently harming them. Probably not effective for what you’re planning. Spray into the wind and you spray yourself. 99 (3) View Wishlist Added to Wishlist Sabre Dog Deterrent Pink Case Spray $13. How does capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers, and compressed air combine to affect a grizzly bear's olfactory and nervous system? It is unclear what the woman was researching in the area. Is nature’s own terms leaving bear spray behind? 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. Bear spray isn’t a safety net, it’s a last resort. Click here to find out and be safe. What IS known is that a gun does work in those circumstances. It does not work as a deterrent when applied to people or equipment. The trick is hitting a very agile, fast-moving animal if it decides to attack. Does Bear Spray Really Work? Chemical mace is a very powerful irritant. Bear spray is made of very hot peppers ground up and forced from a pressurized container. Hayden Valley July 2, 2011 Lucky to be Alive. 49 (3) View Wishlist Added to Wishlist Bear Bell $5. If you can afford the $45 or so, the spray is added insurance. Chuck Bartlebaugh works with grizzly bear managers, studies all the bear incident reports and is an expert on keeping people safe from bear attacks. 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. Yes. Pepper spray? 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. Wind and/or rain shorten the effective distance. Advertisement. Bear Spray Demonstration and Safety Tips. Bear spray isn't unlike pepper spray that humans use to protect themselves from other humans. 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. 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. 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. Recommendation: given these guidelines, and paying close attention to price, strength, and performance, our top recommendation is Frontiersman Bear Spray. 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