Bear spray has been used to stop and turn away many attacking bears. Even if it does not prevent a mauling, it still has the potential to diminish the duration and severity of the attack. Bear spray should be used as a deterrent or weapon. The spray must enter the bear's eyes, nose and mouth to be effective. Bears may be attracted to bear spray residue, so do not apply bear spray as a repellent.
The spray might be required in a matter of seconds. It should be carried at a quick-draw position when you may encounter a bear. This may include at night if you are sleeping in a tent.
- Bear spray should be considered the best deterrent against a bear-before resorting to lethal methods, such as gunfire. Spray is cheaper to buy, more convenient to carry, legal in all bear habitats and effective in most cases.
- Avoid spraying upwind since the spray may be blown back and incapacitate you.
- If a bear charges, begin spraying when the bear gets within 12 metres (equivalent to a bus length).
- Release the spray in a cloud pattern, not a stream.
- The initial blast should be released when the bear is just within range. If it does not deter the bear and a charge continues, the rest of the spray should be released at the bear's head. The amount of spray to use on the initial blast should be matched to the situation. A longer initial blast may be needed on windy, rainy and cold days, or if the bear is particularly aggressive (e.g., a sow with cubs or a bear at a kill site).
- Bear spray should be considered the best deterrent against a bear-before resorting to lethal methods, such as gunfire. Spray is cheaper to buy, more convenient to carry, legal in all bear habitats and effective in most cases.
- there is more than one bear,
- you may encounter more bears, and
- the spray has been used for previous attacks.
- you may encounter more bears, and
- Spray canisters can lose their pressure over time, particularly if they have been used once. This can be detected by precisely weighing the can using a good scale to determine the weight of the pressurized gas that has escaped.
- Bear spray must not be carried in the cockpit of an aircraft where an accidental discharge could disable the occupants.
- Bear spray has an expiry date, so check this date prior to potential use.
- Bear spray must not be carried in the cockpit of an aircraft where an accidental discharge could disable the occupants.
- All bear pepper sprays have three components in common:
- oleoresin capsicum (an oily residue extracted from cayenne pepper that naturally contains the active ingredient-capsaicin-that elicits an intense burning sensation);
- a carrier that thins and dilutes the oleoresin capsicum and:
- a propellant that supplies the energy to expel the carrier and active ingredient from the can.