What Makes Bear Pepper Spray So Effective?

Back in 1972 after I got out of the Army, I moved to Denver, Colorado and ended up owning and running a restaurant which led to many fun memories and a lot of things I'd just as soon forget. One of the fun memories was that of Sissy, our pet black bear. She resided in a cave and fenced in area in the courtyard of our restaurant.

Her favorite treat was maraschino cherries. For those brave enough, you could walk into her fenced in area and put the stem of the maraschino cherry in your mouth lean over and Sissy would pluck the cherry right out of your mouth. If you don't believe me, I have pictures that prove it.

That started my odyssey with black bears or bears in general. Bears are dangerous animals so don't misunderstand me. They can rip you apart just as fast is any other animal. But they are basically shy and would just as soon avoid confrontation. If you see one in the wild the best thing is to just stand still and make yourself look as big as you possibly can. Stand up straight with your arms out to your side and hope that the bear goes away.

I would never, never recommend that anybody go into the back country without some bear pepper spray for self-defense. Organizations like the Sierra Club and the IGBC recommend that you carry bear pepper spray. They don't endorse any particular brand. The IGBC for example, tells you to use bear spray as a deterrent only with an aggressive or attacking confrontation with a bear. They recommend that you carry one in a hip or chest holster and have it tested at least once a year.

When you use it, aim the Bear Pepper Spray slightly down and towards the approaching bear. As always make sure you adjust for cross wind. When the bear is about 50 feet away spray a brief shot. If the bear continues to approach what you want to do is create a wall of mist so that the bear will run into the wall of pepper spray.

According to the EPA "No deterrent is 100% effective, but compared to all others, including firearms, bear spray has demonstrated the most success in fending off threatening and attacking bears and preventing injury to the person and animal involved."

The reason it is so effective is because of the oleoresin capsicum in the spray. It is a by-product of one of the hottest peppers in the world. Bears have ultra-sensitive noses so they can find food. When they smell the spray they take off.

The major drawback to bear spray is it is unpredictable in windy conditions which, generally speaking, occur in the back country where conditions can be tricky at best. Bear spray is subject to the vagaries of the wind. Wind has to be taken into account. Bear sprays when properly used can give bears an opportunity to reassess their situation and move on-exactly what you want.

There two times of the year when bear activity increases. In early spring when bears come out of hibernation and are hungry as all get out they become more aggressive in looking for food. And in the fall as they get ready to hibernate they become more aggressive looking for food to stock up for their winter hibernation.

But anytime of the year if you're going hunting, camping, fishing or even hiking in the back country you should always carry some bear pepper spray with you.

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