bear repellent

D

destillat

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2001
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mississauga
So one of my plans for this summer is to get back to camping in bear country.
I have camped all my life, but only in bear country when I was a kid, and therefore relatively oblivious to the bear concern.

Now I know that people like to play up the bear threat, and from a statistical standpoint, I am not overly concerned about a bear encounter.
But I don't want to become that rare statistic!
Plus, my SO is rather paranoid about the bear issue and will not come along without a bear avoidance/repellent plan (which might not be a bad thing!)... but seriously, I do plan on doing some solo overnighters, so some kind of protection would make me feel better.

Bear bells and proper camp practices are a no-brainer.
Does anyone have any experience/expertise with bear spray and bear bangers?
Most of the seasoned campers I have spoken with don't use either, which is reassuring... but until I build up some personal experience in bear country, I would prefer to have some kind of protection.

Thoughts?
 
destillat said:
So one of my plans for this summer is to get back to camping in bear country.
I have camped all my life, but only in bear country when I was a kid, and therefore relatively oblivious to the bear concern.

Now I know that people like to play up the bear threat, and from a statistical standpoint, I am not overly concerned about a bear encounter.
But I don't want to become that rare statistic!
Plus, my SO is rather paranoid about the bear issue and will not come along without a bear avoidance/repellent plan (which might not be a bad thing!)... but seriously, I do plan on doing some solo overnighters, so some kind of protection would make me feel better.

Bear bells and proper camp practices are a no-brainer.
Does anyone have any experience/expertise with bear spray and bear bangers?
Most of the seasoned campers I have spoken with don't use either, which is reassuring... but until I build up some personal experience in bear country, I would prefer to have some kind of protection.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

You can visit TNT store at Islington and Lakeshore they sell bear spray. Nobody knows exactly how well it will work on a bear but as long as a bear is not super pissed the spray will make him go away.
 
The only real risk from black bears is if you leave food around your campsite or startle one (and considering how well they hear...). Lock your food (AND FOOD GARBAGE) in the trunk or in the back country hang it in a tree a hundred feet or so away.

There is a higher risk of a bear encounter in developed campgrounds because there have been enough stupid people there to attract bears but except for risk to food, they rarely cause issues. The less used an area is the less chance of having a nosy bear hanging around. Most bear encounters I've had has been seeing the ass end of a bear running away after it heard me.

But if it makes your SO feel better then pick up a can of bear spray. It's available at most camping stores and you can tell her it works all the time. :D
 
I have camped in BC and Northern Quebec, I have seen bears. I have my bear spray as well as a flare gun to scare or burn the bear off if they come too close. ( only as a last resort )
 
basketcase said:
The only real risk from black bears is if you leave food around your campsite or startle one (and considering how well they hear...). Lock your food (AND FOOD GARBAGE) in the trunk or in the back country hang it in a tree a hundred feet or so away.

There is a higher risk of a bear encounter in developed campgrounds because there have been enough stupid people there to attract bears but except for risk to food, they rarely cause issues. The less used an area is the less chance of having a nosy bear hanging around. Most bear encounters I've had has been seeing the ass end of a bear running away after it heard me.

But if it makes your SO feel better then pick up a can of bear spray. It's available at most camping stores and you can tell her it works all the time. :D
Click to expand...

This was kinda the approach I was planning on taking.
I just really hate how huge the bear spray containers are... it's like carrying a fire extinguisher on your belt!
Do you have any idea if bear bangers are effective?
 
Destillat, I see you're in Mississauga. LeBaron sells really good bear sprays (Dixie & Dundas).

They do work, but there are certain instructions you need to follow. You have to spray from 40ft away if possible, and aim for the bears feet so the wind doesnt drift the spray away.

You have better chance of being hit by lightning then a bear attack


Bear spray works on pretty much any animal, even cougars or moose
 
 
Piss entirely around your tent. Mark your territory
 
Bear repellant works really well under the right conditions. It's an aerosol, so in high winds it won't work too well. But in normal conditions it's very effective.

And basically, it's pepper spray.

Bears use smell as their primary sense. Their vision isn't great, but their sense of smell is incredible. Pepper spray is somewhat painful for them, but much more importantly it totally disorients them--it takes away their primary sense, smell, and they really dislike that. So they run away. It's very effective.

But it's also TEMPORARY. The main thing to know about bear spray is that it wears off. If the bear was aggressive and needed to be sprayed odds are in a half hour to an hour it'll be back to being an aggressive bear.

So use the opportunity to leave the area and get as far as possible from the aggressive bear.

Don't spray one that comes to your camp site and then figure it's gone. It's not gone. It's off somewhere feeling awful. When the effect of the spray wears off it may come back.
 
No bear spray is not like pepper spray.

The concentrations are a lot greater.

One time I wanted to test it out. First the jet sprays with force and distance. 2nd, the wind picked up and brought back the particulates back us and the cottage through the closed windows and we were all sneezing for at least half an hour until everything cleared. I bought the stuff off amazon.

Just be careful if you need to use it as it could hurt children and maybe the elderly, the concentration is very high compared to regular pepper spray.
 
Ideally if aggressive bears are a problem and you won't just be able to leave (at a cottage or a campsite you can't quickly move) you will have the spray AND a shotgun loaded with a slug, or similarly powerful firearm.

Spray the bear the first time it shows up and then be ready with the firearm, in case it comes back. The spray is more effective, but if an already sprayed bear comes back again after that you are going to have to kill it.
 
Here are a few lightning strikes in the last few years in Ontario.

http://www.thebearstick.com/bear-attacks/


If you think that only a can of bear spray is sufficient protection then so be it . I too camp in bear country about 100 miles South Of James Bay . I see bears every year . We all camp in trailers . Nobody uses a tent . Bears will come into camp , usually at night . You can see the bear scat that they left in certain places . All food must be locked up and that includes the pot of oil that is used to fry the fish . Garbage is not put away in garbage cans . It is burnt every night and so are the food cans . The cans are put aside in the morning and are taken home when we leave .

Fish guts are taken a few miles away and are left for the wolves and other animals to eat . Everything is cleaned up as not to attract the bears .

Every single camper who is in camp has some sort of protection . Either a rifle or a shot gun . Most of the people are from the surrounding area and they know what a bear can do. The 2 of us are the only city folk who camp there but we know these people very well . They don't depend on a can of bear spray for protection of their families or themselves . I bring a short barrel shot gun and a 44mag rifle and have them ready if need be . The law states that it's OK if your in an area with dangerous animals . The MNR boys don't like this but I really don't care what they say . The Law is the Law and we are allowed to do this according to the Feds.

Now if you and your fellow experienced campers are happy with only bear spray in bear country then so be it . Have a look at that link and think about your chances of getting hit by lightning like some people like to put it .
 
fuji said:
Ideally if aggressive bears are a problem and you won't just be able to leave (at a cottage or a campsite you can't quickly move) you will have the spray AND a shotgun loaded with a slug, or similarly powerful firearm.

Spray the bear the first time it shows up and then be ready with the firearm, in case it comes back. The spray is more effective, but if an already sprayed bear comes back again after that you are going to have to kill it
Click to expand...
Its kinda how we feel when we meet fuji in the wild
 
John Henry said:
If you think that only a can of bear spray is sufficient protection then so be it.
Click to expand...

Here is a guy who knows what he is talking about. I am not sure what qualifies as "bear country" for OP, but if you ever seen what a bear can do when motivated, you will bring a rifle. If you are going into grizzly country, I would bring a helicopter.
 
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