I have reviewed the use of bear spray once before on this blog. Since the National Park Service has recently issued caution in regard to our national parks and bears I believed it would be best to review this issue.
The link above is a YouTube video that shows exactly the best stance to use if there is a bear throttling toward a person. However, what is not mentioned is the fact bears can travel very fast. Scientists list their speed at 30 mph, but, there have been reports of 35 mph. Why is that important? Because while bear spray is very effective the bear(s) can be upon a person before being able to deploy the spray. Also a person when frightened tends to be flustered rather than organized. For the person(s) heading into the wilderness or wilderness area (including national parks) be well practiced both in deploying the bear spray and maintaining confidence to be accurate and effective.
If entering a national park for pleasure, exercise, adventure, or enjoyment please check the National Park Service website and read about the park before arriving to it.
(Click here)
Enter the national park of interest into the search 🔍 icon. Then ask it to search and it will go to the national park of interest home page.
The description will discuss the wildlife at the park and the best way to enjoy viewing them.
Below is a brand of bear spray that is very popular.
This particular spray is a 2 percent concentration. It is noted this can be purchased at Home Depot. Home Depot even adds an attractive offer to discount the purchase if the consumer is interested.
I have not researched the concentration’s effectiveness, but, there should be a consumer report somewhere that discusses the concentration needed. The US EPA does not test bear or mountain lion spray for effectiveness.
There is information floating around the net that bear spray is prohibited in the national parks and that is not accurate. There are some national parks that don’t have these particular wildlife within its borders and such spray could pose a danger if used as a toy in a family campground area. So for those reasons bear spray may be restricted. Again, search the National Park Service website and look for information about the park.
(Click here)
Immediately above this notation about “Bear Horn” there is a good discussion about bear deterrence and mountain lion deterrence.
There are good precautions that really should apply to anyone leaving civilization to enjoy the outdoors including traveling in a group rather than alone. Making noise is another effective method to let wildlife know there are people on the land that may normally be their exclusive territory. Large mammals tend to be territorial. Any surprise happening within their territory is going to result in a confrontation. By making noise, including playing a favorite tune or plenty of welcome conversation, it will alert the wildlife and provide time to alter their plans to cross the path of persons within their territory.
Going into the wilderness is not child’s play. Knowing the lay of the land and the wildlife within it is really the best way to enjoy the experience.
Please, please, when visiting the National Parks FOLLOW the RULES. Those rules are well thought out from research over decades. Those rules, even if they are inconvenient to a picture opportunity or seem over protective and silly, they are not. The rules in the National Parks were written to ensue safety for the tourists and the wildlife. The Park Rangers know what they are doing. They care about the land, the wildlife, and the people that love it as much as they do.
Know the wilderness and the outcome to a planned experience and enjoy America’s wilderness for the pristine beauty that lies there.
