Warning about pepper spray

[Jim NE]

Hi. I just saw something on another forum about bear attacks, and it reminded me of something I read in an outdoor magazine years ago. Many people carry pepper spray as bear protection, and it may be marginally effective, to a degree. But there's a small problem...

According to this article (I don't remember which magazine it was in) some outdoor products testers were trying out different sprays made by different manufacturer's - testing how far the spray streams went, how well they covered, potency, etc. - to write a product review column. After they were done with their tests, and were packing up to leave, they saw a couple of grizzlies come out of the woods and start LICKING the ground where they had been spraying the pepper!

It seems that, while bears don't like getting the stuff in their eyes, they apparently really like the taste of it! So if you're being charged by a bear and you accidentaly get some of the stuff on yourself, you might as well put on some mustard and ketchup, too, 'cuz you're likely to be lunch.

Now, I know that most people who post at the HighRoad aren't likely to be the type of people to carry pepper spray to scare off bears, but you might pass this info on to any treehugging, politico-correctus friends you might have. (While you're doing this maybe:)

 

[JEB]

bears like pepper? and i thought it was just tigers.....

 

[hso]

We should be careful about making too much of information that is simply related that might lead us to assumptions that probably aren't valid.

Putting bear spray to use to stop the imminent threat of death or maiming by a bear is saving your life right then right there and after is a distant consideration.

Folks that get pepper spray on themselves don't leave it on themselves because it will cause irritation to the skin. You'll be getting any contamination off instead of marinating in it.

THR members are probably more likely to carry bear spray because being more mindful of the need to prepare to defend themselves than the average sleepwalking member of the public they'll look for what works and bear spray works.

It isn't too surprising that bears would investigate an "interesting" smell in their environment and taste to find out if it is good or not.

 

[CathyGo]

Many animals will not connect spicy foods with the burning sensation in their mouths. My parents dog likes salsa but licks his face repeatedly with a puzzled expression afterwards.

As others have said nobody leaves pepper spray on them. It feels like a really bad sun burn even after you've washed it off with the stronger stuff.

 

[hso]

Good point, Cathy.

Our Akita will eat hot peppers and food that makes family and guests, and me, go looking for ice cream, but I've broken up a couple of dog fights using pepper spray and he's not been happy at all.

 

[Devonai]

All I can say is, after having been sprayed as part of a qual course at work, I would be perfectly happy spraying a belligerent bear in the face with the stuff. I would prefer a firearm, of course.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I've seen pepper spray used on brown bears firsthand, and it's extremely effective.

It's also old news that morons will spray the stuff around their campsite thinking it will repel bears when it will actually attract them, since it's a food smell. It doesn't work that way. You have to shoot it into their face, whereupon they will turn inside out to get away from you since you've just blinded them and inflicted extreme pain.

95% percent of your scary brown/grizzly encounters are of the threat display variety. If you shoot the bear you've just killed your hunting/fishing vacation. You have to skin the bear and take the head and hide (a brown bear head and hide weighs 200 pounds!) and pack it out it to the nearest fish and game official, fill out a bunch of forms and wait for a determination on the legality. It's an enormous pain in the rear.

People experienced with bears carry pepper spray.

 

[kk0g]

Good one Jim, looks like you got a couple decent bites on this one, better reel em' in

 

[dprice3844444]

http://www.huntamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?1389-Bear-Warning-Sign

 

[Jim NE]

"Good one Jim, looks like you got a couple decent bites on this one, better reel em' in "

Ok, kkOg...April Fools! I had no idea that bears actually kind of liked pepper spray! Who'd of guessed it? (I don't live around bears.)

I should have stuck to my original plan and said Wayne LaPierre had denounced guns and become a Moonie and was selling flowers in airports.

(FYI, I did intend about coming clean on my gag...don't like spreading disinformation about serious things like bears.)

 

[hso]

We've had idgets pose the same questions before so treating it as a serious question is just matter of course for dealing with the ill-informed and/or foolish.

 

[Jim NE]

Sorry. my " " was supposed to be the clue, but I should have said April Fools in the original post..

 

[ATBackPackin]

Dprice, that sign is absolutely hilarious.

 

[p35]

Once my brother was cutting up some very hot peppers to make salsa when nature called, and without thinking he went and did the natural without washing his hands first. A few minutes later he was in extreme pain- said later he thought it was going to fall off.

Point is, hot pepper juice is great if you eat it, not if you get it on tender body parts.

On a serious note, one of those full squirt bottles of srichacha sauce makes a great improvised pepper spray should you ever encounter an obnoxious, aggressive drunk in an Asian deli. Don't ask how I know that...

 

[ATBackPackin]

Does anyone know the scoville rating on pepper spray? I'm know it varies, but does anyone know the average or even the rating for a certain brand?

 

[Big Bill]

but you might pass this info on to any treehugging, politico-correctus friends you might have.

Nope, not me, let em take their chances - bears gotta eat too!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I want the new pepper spray made from Indian Ghost Peppers.