| One of the major questions that is often asked | | | | time. The other third the bear actually becomes |
| among people going on some serious adventure | | | | more angry and aggravated from the pain and |
| camping for the first time is whether or not bear | | | | actually becomes more intent on harming you. On |
| mace works. Does bear spray really work? The | | | | the other side, studies from the last 30 years |
| answer is, yes. This is a good question because | | | | showed that bear spray turned back charging |
| after all, if you're wrong, you could be lunch. An | | | | bears or over curious bears an amazing 92% of |
| angry charging grizzly bear is a much bigger issue | | | | the time. |
| than a raccoon looking for a snack at night. | | | | Bear spray can cause incredibly severe pain to |
| If you're thinking about using bear spray, it makes | | | | humans, but an accident with bear spray will put |
| sense to know whether or not that deterrent | | | | you in extreme pain for some time, but it won't |
| works before the angry grizzly charges. Hikers, | | | | be fatal the way a firearm could be. A person |
| campers, bikers, and travelers alike in certain | | | | that just catches a downwind whiff of this is |
| parts of the country use bear spray, and studies | | | | often on the ground in pain for five minutes or |
| show that actual bear pepper spray, when used | | | | more. A bear's nose is hundreds of times more |
| correctly, is more effective than a firearm. | | | | sensitive than a human's, which is why the bear |
| There are several problems with using a firearm | | | | spray is so effective and repulsive to even a full |
| for self defense. The first and most obvious is | | | | sized grizzly. |
| the people carrying around a hand gun aren't | | | | Like with most things, the key to using bear |
| always excellent shots. Being an okay shot with a | | | | spray effectively is to know how to properly use |
| revolver is not enough when a bear charges. In | | | | it. If a bear is getting too close are charging, |
| fact, there are expert marksmen who have been | | | | spray the bear spray in front of you. It should |
| mauled because the shot bear just got angry and | | | | form a cloud in the air, and the moment the bear |
| kept on coming, even with several well placed | | | | hits that cloud it will fall on its haunches and then |
| shots. | | | | 19 out of 20 times it will tuck tail and run. |
| The second part is that a bear that is shot is only | | | | That's a far better result than having it charge |
| likely to stop or slow about two thirds of the | | | | through two bullet wounds to its next meal. |