Does Pepper Spray Make Bears Mad? It sprays accurately and far. Does bear spray really work? In 20 well-documented cases of spray being used on grizzlies, the bears were stopped by the spray. How does Pepper Spray work? Canisters of bear spray with a range equivalent to or greater than that of wasp spray are readily available, and they work by creating a cloud of fiery OC derivative that can stop a large animal / human dead in their tracks. Fish and Wildlife Service. In all the testing researchers in Ely, Minnesota have done with various brands of pepper spray, no bear has shown the slightest hint of anger. Bear sprays are another form of pepper spray. Part of Bartlebaugh’s stumping involves pointing out the significant difference between bear spray and other pepper spray defense products, such as those carried by people to prevent assault. Photograph by Michael S. Quinton, National Geographic, How a Potent Pepper Spray Became the Best Bear Repellent, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/09/150925-grizzly-bears-attacks-science-animals-bear-spray.html, This is one of several stories asking: How do we live with the predators, Why You're More Likely To Be Killed By a Bee Than a Bear, bear spray was 92 percent effective in deterring attacks. If you are serious about self defense, go purchase some pepper spray. Bear spray contains different active ingredients (capsaicin and related capsaicinoids) than pepper spray. Some of the same researchers conducted a related study on the use of firearms as bear deterrents, and found them to be more or less useless. He and government officials recommend that consumers choose a brand with a minimum net content of 7.9 ounces (225 grams) that can discharge a wide cloud of atomized spray up to 30 feet (9 meters) for seven seconds. The important connection between the two is that they are an excellent tool for saving your life in an emergency encounter. Many people want to know if they can use Grizzly Bear Pepper Spray on humans. However, the strongest pepper spray is not just a matter of scovilles. Save on the cover price & free e-Gift card for Giftees! See for yourself the difference. In past decades, many people traveling in bear country during this time of year have shot bears, claiming self-defense. Mark Matheny was another initial skeptic, but his own brush with near death made him a believer. Generic pepper spray does not work on bears,” Bartlebaugh says. When sprayed, it causes swelling of nose, eyes and lungs. I can't afford an expensive bear deterrent: What can I use to assist me? The answer is YES. Does pepper spray work on dogs. (See "What Happens to Problem Bears That Go to Rehab?"). “To be most effective, users need to create a wall of the product rising off the ground into the air that the bear must come through,” Bartlebaugh says. I also assumed that bear spray is stronger than conventional self-defense pepper sprays because, well, bears. The personal-defense pepper spray some people carry in their cars or purses will not work on a bear, Servheen says. Then, in the late 1980s, a “revolutionary tool for better co-existence” arrived, explains Chuck Bartlebaugh, founder and director of the Center for Wildlife Information in Missoula, Montana. I have heard mixed things. On the swamp hunters show they use a .22 magnum and you have to hit a kill spot about the size of a quarter and if you dont hit it, it just makes the gator mad. Not a good idea. Generic pepper spray does not work on bears,” Bartlebaugh says. Between 1985 and 2006, scientists found that bear spray was 92 percent effective in deterring attacks from the three species of North American bear in Alaska. Human spray is about 10% capsaicin, while bear pepper spray is only about 1-2% capsaicin, even though a brown bear is about three times bigger than an adult human male. To help educate people, Bartlebaugh has taught hundreds of classes on using bear spray. This occurs owing to the ingredients of pepper sprays which initiate a defensive reaction in the bear. Use the coupon on page … A bear will confront you, whereas by the time you get out your’e spray the tiger already has you by the back of the neck. Both bear spray and pepper spray contain the same active ingredient, OC (oleoresin capsicum) and can cause temporary blindness, nausea, burning sensations, inability to breathe temporarily and other bothersome symptoms. I can't afford an expensive bear deterrent: What can I use to assist me? “If you manage to shoot the bear—and that’s a big if—you may just wound it and make everything worse,” Servheen says. Bear pepper spray is really an essential item to always have within reach in such situations. Yes, the spray will effect the child as … Does Pepper Spray Really Work? Bear spray can save your life from all bear species, like black bear, brown bear or grizzly. What happens is that when you spray on wild dogs, the ingredients which leave … Their sense of smell makes them even more susceptible to pepper spray, and it should work if you can hit your target. ... if not more effective than, pepper spray. What Happens to Problem Bears That Go to Rehab? Yes, you can use it and it will work on these animals too. If You are talking about the family size bear spray, yes. The three biggest mistakes people make are having bear spray in a place where it can’t be readily retrieved, waiting until the bear is inches away to pull the trigger, or firing too high. In terms of strength, bear spray has about 2% CRC (Capsaicin and Related Capsaicinoids) and human spray only has about 1.33% CRC. (See "Video of Yellowstone Bear Chasing Tourists Isn't What You Think."). Familiarize yourself with your particular spray can, which will include a safety mechanism and trigger, Servheen says. All rights reserved. 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. In the late 1980s, Jonkel and Hunt presented their findings to Chris Servheen, the longtime national grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. (See National Geographic's best bear pictures.). Answer: Bear spray is made of very hot peppers ground up and forced from a pressurized container. Kodiak, it will work on a cat. “If you’re a hunter, why not carry bear spray?” says Smith, who co-authored the study with Stephen Herrero, professor emeritus at the University of Calgary in Canada. It lasts a long time. Here's why they were wrong. When a bear is coming toward you, its head is likely to be low and close to the ground. She turned and ran off, her cub at her heels. Depending on the type of bear you’re facing, one study found that the spray was effective anywhere from 90% to 100%. This, on the other hand, is a good idea. A standard self-defense spray might have up to 10% capsaicin. SABRE pepper spray for dogs is specially formulated with 1.0% Major Capsaicinoids, the humane amount allowed by the EPA, so it will not kill dogs. When compared to other methods of scaring away bear, with air horns, you do not have to wait until the bear is close. Across the northern Rocky Mountains, western Canada, and Alaska, big game hunting season has begun. Submitted by - Tom, LA. For one thing, it won’t do you any good at all if you keep it stowed in your pack, stuffed in your sleeping bag, or stashed anyplace else out of reach. There are three main ingredients in bear spray: If it does work, how? (The spray wears off after an hour or two, and there is no lasting harm done to the bear, he adds.). He and Matheny independently have built training facilities in which they simulate bear attacks; Matheny’s lab features a bear mannequin that can move at high speeds. Bear spray is a non-lethal invention that ensures safety of people. However, for a human being, that rating is often much higher. The difference between pepper spray and bear spray is minimal, but significant. “And it means angling the blast lower rather than aiming high.”, “If a bear is charging at 35 to 45 miles [56 to 72 kilometers] an hour and coming at you from 60 yards [180 feet], it’ll be on you in two to three seconds,” he notes. Grandpa Well-Known Member. My friend Don Thomas, a writer and angler, told me about his one experience with pepper spray in Alaska: Bear spray, especially at close range where most attacks occur, is more reliable than a speeding bullet and extremely effective in thwarting a grizzly charging at 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour, research shows. Hold the spray up at shoulder level, and your aim may be too high to hit the bear in the face. Bear spray was born in response to helplessness and frustration over the regular, violent, and often fatal encounters between humans and bears. In these cases, the only possible effectiveness of bear pepper spray would be if an adult were nearby with a can of the spray. Does Bleach Repel Bears? 5 0. Out in the wild, sprays vary in their effectiveness. Todd Wilkinson is an environmental journalist. Containing derivatives of oleoresin capsaicin (the stuff which makes chili peppers hot), it serves to irritate the eyes, nose, skin, throat, and lungs of bears, which restricts the beast’s sensory, olfactory and respiratory faculties temporarily. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- If you want to stay alive while encountering a bear you need to have bear spray , which is specially designed to deter bears. But the fact remains: I was about eight miles into an Alaska hike when I accidentally blasted myself square in the face with pepper spray. (See "Why You're More Likely To Be Killed By a Bee Than a Bear."). The research confirms that it’s highly effective. It sent out a large cloud, not a spray. Wind may be an issue, but the Wildlife Service study found that it only affected the shot 7 percent of the time and in each case, the spray still reached the bear. This, theoretically, is supposed to … So, they'll respond swiftly to a dose of pepper spray, meaning they'll almost always beat a hasty retreat. Short answer: No. “Some people complain about paying $40 for a can of bear spray," Smith adds. A friend of mine had received a pepper spray as a gift. Finally, Servheen recommends making noise—clapping or talking—whenever you’re hiking, and especially if you’re walking into the wind, through thick brush, or in other areas where a bear may not see, hear or smell you. As bear spray today has been widely adopted as a necessity for hunters and others venturing into bear habitat, the biggest challenge is getting people to know how to use it—and that means having it handy and ready to deploy instantly. How close? You can look at the bear pepper sprays here: The problem lies in their method of attack. Why? If I had to choose one or the other, I’d go with bear spray.”. Since the books take place in the mountains of Colorado, it was very believable that the character would have it handy. A man out for an evening jog found himself face to face with two cougars on a remote trail near Grande Prairie. That traumatic encounter—and the realization that four ounces of pepper spray was insufficient—inspired Matheny to found his own bear spray company, UDAP, one of four major manufacturers. Even when wind interfered with the spray’s accuracy, it still reached the bear and helped scare it off, the study shows. The reason human spray is so much more potent is the purpose of human pepper spray is to fully incapacitate a human attacker, while bear pepper spray is only meant to deter a bear. Study co-author Tom Smith, a biologist at Brigham Young University in Utah, notes that firearms are still effective—but that they often lead to unnecessary bear deaths. (Related: "'It Wasn't the Bear's Fault.' In September 1992, the then 39-year-old Montana man and a friend were bow-hunting deer in the Gallatin National Forest when they stumbled upon a mother grizzly with cubs. Despite having a lower OC level than human pepper spray, it works just fine on bears. But it turns out, I was wrong: The sow took Matheny down, chomping on his head. The only difference is the strength of the spray itself. Does Bear Spray Work? He was intrigued by the results, as was a Vietnam veteran named Bill Pounds, who developed and released the first major commercial bear spray product, called Counter Assault, soon after. You need bear spray—also known as bear deterrent—which is a product made specifically for bears. The answer probably isn’t what you want to hear: While bear mace may produce side effects that will deter a human in certain situations, it isn’t recommended. No, don’t use dog pepper spray on bears, it won’t work. In 26 cases of spray vs. black bears, six of the bears returned, but none attacked. Emptying the can of spray on the cougar will cause it to drop the child and hopefully save the child's life. Former Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist John Hechtel prepares to fire can of inert bear spray during a training session on bear deterrents on July 24, 2014, in Wrangell, Alaska. Leave the bear spray for the bears! If you are serious … I was told to use regular pepper spray or bleach. You must be carrying pepper spray to protect yourself against invaders but does this pepper spray work on dogs? Most years, you could count on one hand the number of people harmed by a bear in the United States. The personal-defense pepper spray some people carry in their cars or purses will not work on a bear, Servheen says. The Yellowstone version cautions hikers to keep bear spray readily accessible, not in a backpack. “As a deterrent for repelling aggressive grizzlies and other bear species, bear spray has been the single most important innovation to emerge for both hunters and hikers passing through grizzly country in the last 50 years, if not ever,” says Bartlebaugh, who has studied the red pepper-based spray and its deployment perhaps more than anyone in North America. Could you find out if pepper spray would have any effect on a snake? A 20-year study, published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, of bear-spray incidents in Alaska found that these sprays stopped a bear’s “undesirable behavior” more than 90% of the time. But not any spray will do. To deter aggressive dogs it is better to use dog pepper spray, find more about dog sprays here. Pepper spray is widely used by military units and law enforcement agencies when non-lethal force is required to restrain or subdue an assailant. The entire encounter lasted about 15 … Its a squath, a .22 lr wouldnt work either. Bear spray, on the other hand, infuses and irritates the mucous membranes in the bear’s eyes and nose. ... if not more effective than, pepper spray. It is compact and be easily carried on your belt, in a pocket or purse when you are walking, jogging, or riding a bike. 'Yeah, this ought to be pretty entertaining to watch. Bear spray typically can shoot farther than human pepper spray and also often has a wider affected area. If you happen to shoot yourself or a friend as well, the effect of the bear spray will be the same as human pepper spray and will wear off … The effective range varies from 18 to 30 feet, depending on the product you choose. I also recommend the type that shoots a stream rather than a “fan” pattern. The bear spray was completely discharged in about three seconds. In fact, because black bears are generally smaller than grizzlies it works better on them. Generic pepper spray does not work on bears,” Bartlebaugh says. What Is Bear Spray and Is It Effective? Like thousands of others, Legg joined the long cleanup effort and, while people were working at the shoreline, officials established bear lookouts, all armed with cayenne pepper spray. Cappy! Its a squath, a .22 lr wouldnt work either. They contain oils from the cayenne pepper and are measured in their intensity on the Scoville scale. Many people ask about using pepper spray on bears – does it work? Bear spray has had its doubters over the years, though they're steadily shrinking in number. Follow him on Twitter. “I can’t tell you how many times a victim has had bear spray with them, but didn’t have enough time to get it out of the holster before a grizzly was on them,” Bartlebaugh says. As an outdoorsman who has to spend a small fortune on bear repellent each year, I was tempted to explore the possibility myself. Does Bear Spray Work? “People who thought it does have, in the past, been seriously injured because it didn’t stop bears.” Containing derivatives of oleoresin capsaicin (the stuff which makes chili peppers hot), it serves to irritate the eyes, nose, skin, throat, and lungs of bears, which restricts the beast’s sensory, olfactory and respiratory faculties temporarily. The ten to fifteen feet range was barely enough. Now imagine a grizzly bear – with a sense of smell seven times more than a bloodhound – hit with a dense cloud of bear spray.. Come summer, millions of vacationers flock to America’s stunning state and national parks. This method of self-preservation carries no risk of … I might follow this guy out in the woods one day, to see how he pepper sprays a snake! Working closely with advisor Chuck Jonkel, Hunt and colleagues tested a number of different ingredients on captive grizzlies. Bear spray has a much lower concentration of oleoresin capsicum, and should only be used as a bear deterrent. Bear spray—which contains concentrated capsaicinoids, the stuff that makes hot peppers hot—is easier to deploy accurately and doesn’t require you to bring the bear down. Grizzly bear have an amazing sense of smell that helps them in searching for food. Unlike bears, however, mountain lions have to take a … Bear pepper spray is the most effective means of repelling an attacking grizzly or black bear in a non-toxic, non-lethal manner. Grizzly Attack Survivor Stories."). However, bear sprays are capable of shooting farther and … If it works on a 1,500 lb. Does Bleach Repel Bears? Bear spray has a much lower concentration of oleoresin capsicum, and should only be used as a bear deterrent. Last Words: Bear spray vs Pepper Spray If you want to learn more about different pepper sprays for self defense, check out this informative review article. Your choice is clear: If you are serious about your self defense, buy a proper pepper spray. The team found that what's now called bear spray, which emits a powerful cloud of chemicals related to those found in ultra-spicy red pepper, temporarily and harmlessly disables a bear’s ability to smell, breathe, see, hear, and think clearly. Pride Johnson, manufacturer of Counter Assault, said the same. Also important: If you buy bear spray, you need to know how to use it. No, pepper spray would not work. But I would recommend using the type formulated for use against bears. Matheny thought it was the end—until his companion emptied a four-ounce can of bear spray into the face of the bruin, causing it to flee. "Are you kidding me? The best way to walk stay out of trouble with bears is to avoid an encounter in the first place. You may wonder, does it work against other animals like dogs, mountain lions, cougars, moose or wolves. As per studies, these products have proven to be highly effective in warding off bears as compared to other options like guns. What Do You Do With a Bear That Kills a Person, 'It Wasn't the Bear's Fault.' Thousands of sportsmen and sportswomen are moving quietly and stealthily through the thickets of the backcountry; meanwhile, grizzlies are preparing to hibernate by gorging themselves on food. Make certain, however, that you carry BEAR spray and not a canister designed for humans. Does bear spray work on humans? 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Yes, I knew it was going to be a bad experience, but how bad exactly was the question. How Bear Spray Works On Grizzly Bear? ... For example, for dogs and bears, the MC rating on a pepper spray isn’t over 1-2%. Bear spray, also referred to as bear deterrent or repellent, is a non-fatal pepper derived self-defense product to be used against bears. While both are simple to use, even simple activities can seem difficult if you’re trying to execute them with a four-hundred-pound bear lumbering toward you. Mountain lions are fast and stealthy. They contain oils from the cayenne pepper and are measured in their intensity on the Scoville scale. Messages 5,884 Points 113 Location SE Idaho. Pepper spray is small, easy to use, and much stronger. It is concentrated pepper spray that will work on anything that breathes air basically. Two decades ago, many thought a simple can of chemicals could never thwart a charging grizzly. Do you know what to do if you're attacked by a startled grizzly? Bartlebaugh admits that when he first heard in the early 1980s that bear biologists were developing a non-lethal weapon to halt bears with stuff sprayed out of a can, “I shook my head and chuckled. “People who thought it does have, in the past, been seriously injured because it didn’t stop bears.”. Surprising a bear can provoke an aggressive response borne of self-defense, he says. Although common sense might suggest that guns would provide greater personal protection, research and experience indicates that human-bear encounters that do not involve firearms are less likely to result in injury to a human or bear. “The bear can’t smell or see, and it’s in pain, so all it wants to do is get out of there,” he says. It contains 1-2% concentration of capsaicin and related capsaicinoids, naturally occurring compounds in peppers. Bear spray (also known as Grizzly Bear Spray) is pepper spray approved by the EPA for bears, as is Counter Assault. Hikers should stay in groups and make noise on the trail. Pepper spray and bear spray will work on mountain lions. Bear spray is legal across the United States.It can be purchased even in Hawaii, New York, or Massachusetts, where standard pepper sprays are illegal unless bought locally by certified firearms dealers or pharmacists. Matheny has even invented a backpack that ejects bear spray simply by pulling a cord in the event a bruin is coming from behind. In laboratory conditions, every time. Bear spray is regulated by the EPA and pepper spray is not. I think the bear spray was $50. I was picturing this whole scenario in my head, and it was just too funny. Because even if you manage to spray into their eyes you will be mangled by the time they even feel it?! But three of the bears came back later and attacked. I'm going fishing in the Trinity Forest rivers, and there are a lot of bears there at this time of year. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Going Hiking? By signing up you are agreeing to our, Who Should Be TIME’s Person of the Year for 2020? (Related: "How to Not Get Attacked by a Bear."). A person's chances of being injured by a bear in Yellowstone National Park (pictured) are about 1 in 2.2 million. The formula is designed so the bear will run away, and the spray typically sprays farther so you don't have to be as close as regular pepper spray. A bear spray contains Oleoresin Capsicum that works perfectly fine on wild dogs who come closer to you with an intention to bite. Pepper spray is one of the best ways to stop an aggressive dog or pack of dogs from biting you, and SABRE Protector® Dog Spray is specifically formulated for use on aggressive dogs. What a wonderful idea! I know they have eyes so Im thinking why wouldn't it? All quietly retreated to deal with the temporary eye irritation. Also, bear spray doesn’t work like bug spray; you can’t spritz some of it on your backpack or tent and expect bears to keep their distance. Fish and Wildlife Service. This Is What You’ll Need to Protect Yourself Against Bears. Not sure if regular pepper spray works on bears, but they do sell a type of pepper spray that is specifically designed for bears. “Think about pointing it down at the ground as you spray,” he says. Carrie Hunt, who directs the conservation nonprofit Wind River Bear Institute, studied various prototypes of bear spray as part of her master's thesis at the University of Montana in the 1980s. With some ways of scaring bears such as sprays, you have to wait until the bear is close enough before you can use it. Joerg Koch/ Getty Images Bear spray isn't unlike pepper spray that humans use to protect themselves from other humans. Those canisters are larger and more concentrated. It is designed to turn back dangerous predators due to its potential of producing burning sensation. :tinysmile_fatgrin_t . Pepper sprays are sprays (or sometimes gels) housed in an aerosol can. And, it does work the same way as it does on humans. Does it work? This video is of a Yellowstone Park Ranger using bear spray on a mother bear with two cubs. The answer is yes. But he's experienced the benefit of bear spray firsthand: He dispensed a can to stop a grizzly bearing down on him in Alaska. In the study, 98 percent of people carrying bear spray who got into close encounters with bears were uninjured. While most outdoor enthusiasts aren’t shy of brushing up against wildlife—after all, that’s part of the fun—close encounters with bears aren’t at the top of most people’s wish lists. As bear spray becomes increasingly popular thanks to recent studies and articles attesting to its effectiveness against bears, as well as plenty of anecdotal accounts of its success against deterring animal (and even human) threats, there’s been a lot of talk going around about its performance in comparison to regular pepper spray – especially by campers and hikers who’d rather have a single … The best thing to do would be to carry a heavy gun, by that I mean like a .357, that would go through it and kill it if you shoot it in the head. But people still need to be wary of bears. I know….I know? This was not only dangerous for people, it represented a major obstacle in restoring populations of the rare predator to the Lower 48. If a grizzly bear is encountered, do … Bear spray does so by watering the eyes of the bear while at the same time constriction its lungs. This is because using before maybe not as effective as the bear may come once the spray has depleted. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know now on politics, health and more, © 2020 TIME USA, LLC. However, the big difference in bear spray and human pepper spray is the bear spray has to pass tests done by the Environmental Protection Agency, to ensure it’s humane. Pepper (OC) spray is legal in almost all states through the United States making it a perfect self defense tool against attackers and also dogs, or even bears. Bear Attack and bear electric fence. No. “If you want to be the most conscientious you can be, carry both. It burns the eyes and noses of bears that walk into the mist sprayed from the container. After decades of use, bear spray is touted by experts as the best choice for staying safe in bear country. “If you can’t get to it in a matter of seconds, it’s not much use to you,” Servheen says. Your life and the life of a bear aren’t worth 40 bucks?”. That wasp spray is relatively inexpensive; relative to bear spray, anyway. “People who thought it does have, in the past, been seriously injured because it didn’t stop bears.” You can unsubscribe at any time. However, mountain lions like to ambush their prey and may be in close quarters before you are aware they are there. A grizzly bear crosses a road amid curious tourists in Yellowstone National Park. He recommends wearing it on your belt or pack strap, or keeping it in a pants pocket that’s easily accessible. http://bearspray.com Bear spray demonstration and comparison. I did an Internet search for pepper spray wild hogs and found a couple of ANECDOTES (note the word) that pepper spray would, indeed, work against wild hogs. “I carry it myself,” Servheen says. Although pepper spray and bear spray contain the same active chemical, they are not the same thing. On the swamp hunters show they use a .22 magnum and you have to hit a kill spot about the size of a quarter and if you dont hit it, it just makes the gator mad. I work in an outdoors store where we sell bear spray and yes, it does work on black bears. Does a Bear Spray Work on Wild Dogs? A 2008 study backs up this claim. The main point is to … It is often made from the same peppers as all the other sprays that are on the market. “It needs to say bear spray on the can. WATCH: A bear can go from disinterested to dangerous in an instant. But bears are not the only predators which might attack you while you enjoy your time in the wilds. All Rights Reserved. “Twenty to thirty feet at most,” Servheen says. From now until the end of autumn, no other season is more hazardous for people and grizzly bears to be in the woods together. Do I need a potent bear spray like Counter Assault in Minnesota? As far as brand, I'm not really sure. But there are a few important caveats for those heading outdoors armed with bear spray. The main difference is that bear spray can shoot farther and casts a wider effective area. “Most people haven’t gone through in their minds what they need to do and how fast they have to react.”. I was told to use regular pepper spray or bleach. One long spray, aimed at the head of momma bear, stopped the bear in her tracks. No, pepper spray would not work. Does pepper spray make bears mad? The spray is only effective when discharged into a bear’s face at fairly close range. The few times someone using spray sustained an injury, that injury was minor. Dogs have extremely sensitive noses, eyes and ears, so the amount of pepper required to halt their aggression is not as high as the strength formulated for humans. “Although no product is guaranteed to work or always 100 percent effective, I’m not aware of any case, among many I’ve reviewed, of a person dying when deploying bear spray the way it is supposed to be used," Bartlebaugh notes.

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