What Is About Bear Spray
When venturing into bear country, it’s crucial to be equipped with the right tools and knowledge to mitigate potential risks. That’s where bear spray comes into play. But what exactly is bear spray?
Bear spray is an important tool for keeping you and your crew protected against aggressive bears in the wilderness. If you plan on hiking in grizzly territory it’s important to know what it is and to have it your packing list. And if you’re planning to carry bear spray with you, there are some important things you need to know about it.
In this article, we’ll delve into the ins and outs of bear spray, its purpose, effectiveness, and how it can be an indispensable asset for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife enthusiasts alike.
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What is Bear Spray?
Bear spray is a highly pressurized, red pepper oil spray designed to deter aggressive bears when they are approaching you.
The oleoresin capsicum in the spray causes inflammation in the eyes and upper respiratory system. This temporarily hinders the bear’s ability to see, smell, or breathe, giving you time to leave the area (if the bear doesn’t leave first). When used correctly, the irritation caused by the spray will distract and/or frighten the bear so that it is no longer acting aggressively.
Bear Spray Vs. Pepper Spray
Bear spray is similar to the pepper spray that you might carry when walking around a dangerous city at night. Similar, but not the same. For starters, bear spray has a lower level of oleoresin capsicum than defensive pepper spray.
That’s right – the spray for the bears is less potent than the one for humans.
You’d think we’d want the most powerful spray for a bear, wouldn’t you? After all, they’re literally bears. But the fact of the matter is we don’t want to permanently injure the bear with high levels of capsicum because the force behind this spray is rather powerful.
This is where bear sprays are more intense than pepper spray – the spray itself. When you release the bear spray, it escapes in a powerful, large cone shape and creates a misty cloud between you and the bear. This is to guarantee you don’t miss the bear’s face with the mist even if it is 30 feet away.
Pepper spray, on the other hand, releases a squirt-like stream that requires more accuracy and a shorter distance.
Even if you don’t mind permanently injuring a bear (not very nice of you), don’t bring pepper spray in lieu of bear spray! Pepper spray would require you to be dangerously close to the bear in order to accurately spray it. The spray is your defense against a large animal, you want it to be foolproof.
Handling Bear Spray Safely
If you’re bringing bear spray on your backpacking trip, you need to know how to carry it safely.
You should carry the bear spray on you and always have it at within reach. When you’re carrying it keep it somewhere that is easily accessible but secure like in a holster or clipped to your waist belt. You need to be able to grab it in seconds. Don’t put it in one of your zippered pockets or main belly of your backpack. It will take too long to retrieve it from these areas of your bag.
Be sure you’re using caution when handling and carrying it. This stuff comes out at 70 mph – it can cause permanent damage to you and your buddies.
How to Use Bear Spray
Let’s get this out of the way first – don’t pre-spray yourself or objects. Bear spray isn’t a repellent. Spraying it on yourself or your tent will just make your eyes, nose and throat irritated.
Now it’s time to go over when you actually should spray it. Bear spray should be used only when a bear is approaching you or acting aggressive toward you. Signs of bear aggression include snorting, huffing, and lowering their head with their ears laid back.
If you see a bear and it respects your distance, there is no need to spray. Simply walk away and keep a lot of space between you and the animal. If you need to know how to behave in a bear encounter, read this.
How to Spray a Bear
- Remove Safety – Most bear sprays come with a safety tab to prevent you from spraying it by accident. Practice releasing the safety at home so you know how to do it, but don’t practice spraying it.
- Aim – Aim the spray slightly downward toward the bears face. Then wait to spray until the bear is 25-30 feet away from you. Don’t get trigger happy, make sure the bear is close enough to hit the mist before you spray.
- Spray – Start with a 1-3 second burst of spray then pause. You don’t want to use up the whole can at once in case you need a second or third shot.
- Spray Again – If the bear continues to approach you, spray again for a longer amount of time. If the bear is charging, create a wall of mist between you and the bear. If the bear gets close, spray directly into its face.
- Watch – Watch the bear as it retreats. Do not turn your back to it. Do not run. Do not make noises of panic.
- Back Away – If the bear has not left the area, slowly back away. Keep your eyes on the bear at all times and make sure the bear spray is handy.
When You Need to Bring Bear Spray
You don’t need to carry bear spray with you every time you venture out to the woods. Bear spray is really only necessary if you are going to a park where grizzly bears reside. If you hear people refer to the area you are visiting as “bear country”, that is a good indicator that you’ll need bear spray!
A lot of parks and forests in bear country may encourage or even require that hikers bring bear spray and bear canisters as a precaution. Check with the visitors’ center if you are uncertain.
Black bears are far more common in the US than grizzly bears. If you are going backpacking somewhere that has black bears, you typically won’t need bear spray. Black bears tend to be timid and afraid of humans so black bear attacks are far more rare.
However, if you want peace of mind if you encounter any large animal – by all means bring a can of bear spray with you. If you’re going to areas that have mountain lions and wolves, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a can handy for protection from these predators. In fact, a runner once protected himself from a mountain lion attack by using bear spray.
If you’re going somewhere where you might see a mountain lion, read this to know how to behave around one.
What to Know Before Buying Bear Spray
If you’re in the market for bear spray, you’re in luck – it is widely available at outdoor shops, park shops, and online retailers. Make sure to look for ones that are EPA registered, contain 1-2% capsaicin or capsaicinoids, and have a range of at least 25 feet. If you find one that meets these requirements and comes with a holster, you’re golden. Below is an excellent option:
Be aware that you can also rent bear spray. Many parks and outdoor shops offer rentals. This is great because it is cheaper than buying your own.
If you’re flying to and from your destination, renting is certainly the way to go. Airplanes do not allow bear spray in carry ons or checked bags so you need to dispose of it before getting to the airport. If you purchase a can, you’ll (hopefully) end up wasting that money. A rented can will be much cheaper and won’t end up in the trash.
How Much Does Bear Spray Cost?
Below is the current average price range for bear spray.
- Purchase – $30 to $50
- Rental – $8 to $10 a day; $24 to $28 a week
Important Tips
- Don’t store bear spray in extreme temperatures. If a canister gets too cold, the pressure may decrease so it won’t spray properly. In extreme heat (120F+), it may explode. Never leave bear spray in your vehicle.
- You cannot take bear spray on airplanes. If you are flying to your backpacking destination, you need to either rent a canister or buy it when you get there. Here are some other backpacking items you can’t take on a plane.
- Don’t keep a partially used or expired can of spray. A used can of bear spray may not be as effective. You do not want to be stuck with a faulty can when you need it the most.
- Be sure to remove any packaging that locks the safety in place. Before setting off on the trail, make sure any safety packaging is removed. The safety should be there, but not a zip tie blocking the safety from being deactivated.
- Dispose of bear spray properly. Please don’t toss your unused spray in the trash. It can be dangerous if handled improperly and is a real hazard in landfills. Many park offices, ranger stations and outdoor shops have resources available for people to dispose of their cans the right way.
Bear Spray Shouldn’t Be Your Only Precaution
Bear spray can be effective at deterring an aggressive bear, but it shouldn’t be your sole precaution. If you’re hiking somewhere with bears around, make sure you are with friends and that you are making noise. Bears usually try to avoid people. If you’re making it obvious that you are human, you will significantly reduce your chances of seeing one.
If you do see a bear, remain calm and keep your distance. Identify yourself and talk loudly. They will typically leave you alone unless they see you as a threat.
If you behave correctly around a bear, it will significantly reduce your chances of having a negative encounter with it. However, keep in mind that each animal is different. They have minds and personalities of their own. That’s why it’s important to have bear spray as a backup in case your behavior doesn’t keep a bear away from you.
Conclusion
Seeing a bear in its natural habitat can be a cool experience. It can also be frightening. These are very large and dangerous animals if you cross paths with the wrong one. That’s why it’s important to have protection when you go into the woods. Bear spray is an effective way to deter a bear if it is approaching you aggressively, but you need to know how to use it. Hopefully this article gave you all you needed to know to handle this form of defense with confidence.
Cover photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash
