Bear-rated Pepper Spray
 

Can anyone recommend a reputable mail order company that sells a good, powerful pepper spray that's proven to be effective on bears? <BR> <BR>Thanks- <BR> <BR>Dave

Dave, sorry, no, but a thought. If you're close enough to a bear to be in the range of pepper spray, man, you are too close! By the way, are we talking black or brown?

John- <BR>I'm going to N. Cascades. in Washington. Mostly black bears; very few, if any grizzlies. I've heard that there are some transient grizzlies that cross the border from Canada. (Due to the current exchange rate, it makes sense that there are more bears than humans making that border run into the US). LOL <BR> <BR>Dave

Dave - Unless you get between a sow and her cubs I don't think you have much to worry about from black bears. Grizzlies are another story. I was under the impression you could buy pepper spray however, I only carry a can of Raid. More distance and I believe it would be effective. When I am spelunking it sure drives the rattlesnakes back to the end of their crawl space. Keep your food stuff put away and don't leave scraps of food around the campsite. That tends to draw them in. Have a good trip.

Dave, I didn't mean to sound glib (but it reads that way, sorry.) When I've been in bear country (mainly in Alaska and mainly in brown bear habitat, one of which bumped me in a tent one night) I've used distance and noise to keep them away, also the usual protective measures like putting food out of reach, etc. Bears inclined to charge unfortunately have the reputation of ignoring distractions, up to and including gunshot wounds. If there is a pepper spray that's effective, I suppose it might provide a sense of comfort, but I'd still strap a bell to my pack and leave the peanut butter at home.

Dave, <BR> <BR>I travel, fish alot in bear country. There is no study to determin if sprays work. However a bear is highly sensitive in the face and nose and i believe any mace or pepper spray at close range would deter a griz.

There is a longwinded joke floating aroud in emails about a ranger explaining to campers about being aware. It ends with... the difference between grizzly spoor and black bear spoor is that grizzly spoor smells like pepper and has little bells in it.

Two guys were camping in the woods, asleep in their tent. They heard the sound of a grizzly bear and feared it was about to pounce. One guy started strapping on his running shoes. Surprised, his buddy asked, "Why on earth are you bothering to put on your track shoes? Surely you don't think you can outrun a grizzly bear?" Calmly, the other man replied, "I don't have to outrun the bear. I only have to outrun you." <BR> ******************** <BR>I'm starting to think someone should start a clean travel joke thread and we can all just get these out of our systems.