College Student Killed in Rare Bear Attack While Hiking in NJ

[Zorra]

42. Alaskan Fish & Game wildlife biologists say not to use wasp spray as a deterrent for bears.

Bear experts instead urge people to use caution and common sense to avoid bear encounters, and if needed, to use bear spray as a non-lethal deterrent or firearms as a lethal deterrent. Specifically, here are their reasons:

1) Wasp spray requires careful aim and is not designed to incapacitate large animals: Wasp spray disperses in a direct stream, which would necessitate a direct hit by the user, likely to the bear’s eyes or face. Bear spray, on the other hand, disperses in a wide fog, which means that the person spraying it does not need to have accurate aim for it to still be effective. While no deterrent is 100 percent effective in all situations, research and actual use has proven that bear spray can be an effective deterrent against advancing bears. Wasp spray, while cheaper, is not designed for use on large animals and has not been proven effective as a wildlife deterrent.

2) Wasp spray is a poison: Approved bear spray contains capsaicin, a chemical derived from cayenne peppers that temporarily disables bears, or people, without typically causing permanent harm. In contrast, wasp spray is a poison that could be harmfulhttp://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=480nd bears. The active ingredient in most wasp sprays are pyrethrins, natural organic compounds designed to penetrate the nervous system of insects and kill them. Even though some self-defense experts have recommended the use of wasp spray instead of mace against people, safety concerns are significant enough that some states have specifically outlawed the use of any self-defense sprays other than pepper sprays (those containing capsaicin.

http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=480

I always carry bear spray when I am backpacking in bear country. I use counter assault, it sprays up to 32 ft. fortunately, I've never had to use it, but many years ago our dog chased a black bear sow and her two cubs up a tree when she was trying to raid our camp. The next day we were walking on a narrow trail above a lake with steep scree slopes above and below us. A cow moose and her calf came around a curve from the opposite direction, about 20 yds. in front of us. The dog charged mama moose and mama moose put her head down and charged the dog, and we (including the dog) all scrambled up the scree as fast as we could. Mama and her calf stood below us, and when mama was satisfied that she had sufficiently explained to the dog that charging a mama moose and her calf was not too smart, she and her baby continued on their way.

And I holstered my pepper spray, and we went on our way.

It's just not a good idea to try to deter a large dangerous animal with a deterrent weapon that has never been known to be effective against large dangerous animals. That could get someone mangled or killed.