# Bears - Protecting my self from them **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 25, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408 "2010-08-25T15:47:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Templeton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Templeton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Templeton)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/1 "2010-08-25T15:47:12Z")
I fish. Usually in streams and often in very remote areas (established bear habitat). I carry a can of bear mace, but I always wonder if this is enough. Should I consider other measures to protect myself? ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/2 "2010-08-25T15:51:03Z")
> [@Templeton](#): > > I fish. Usually in streams and often in very remote areas (established bear habitat). I carry a can of bear mace, but I always wonder if this is enough. Should I consider other measures to protect myself? Good bear spray is highly effective. I’ve hunted bear in my day (black bear), and also enjoy watching them in the wilderness. I’ve also observed some brown bear in the past as well. A proper hunting rifle or high caliber pistol (for easier portability) will definitely allow you to _kill_ a bear. However it may not be nearly as effective at preventing injury from a bear that is intending to attack you as bear spray. As someone who averages a bear a year from hunting, trust me when I say that even a well placed hit with a hunting rifle will not drop a bear instantly. If I was in a situation in which a bear was intending to attack me, I would probably prefer the bear spray because it can immediately deter a bear and end the attack. A bullet may mortally wound the bear but I’ve seen bears continue on even after serious bullet wounds to the skull or dead center mass of their torso. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/3 "2010-08-25T16:04:46Z")
According to [this](http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/bear-spray2.htm) article: > [@](#): > > The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated human and bear encounters from 1992 to 2005 and found that people who defended themselves with firearms were injured about 50 percent of the time by the bear. People who used the bear spray escaped injury 98 percent of the time, and the few injuries they suffered were far less severe than those in the gun-toting realm. Why? Because it’s difficult to stop a bear with a gun and wounded bears are more likely to become even more aggressive. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/4 "2010-08-25T16:47:41Z")
> [@Templeton](#): > > I carry a can of bear mace, but I always wonder if this is enough. Carry two cans? Serious comment, BTW. If you use one can scaring off one bear, you still have another to protect you on your way home. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/5 "2010-08-25T20:01:43Z")
I live in western Montana and Grizzly bear encounters are not uncommon in the back country. While grizzlies are more unpredictable than black or brown bears, I always take a can of bear spray with me when I am out walking on my property or in the woods just in case I encounter an aggresive bear. Most bears will likely leave you alone… thank goodness. When I am horseback riding I sometimes carry a .357 magnum revolver, but I would only use that if for some reason the bear spray failed to stop the bear. Bear spray is very effective in most situations, and at close range, and shooting a bear with a pistol from a distance is challenging at best. You might get one shot off… but as was mentined it’s unlikely to kill the bear instantly. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/6 "2010-08-25T20:13:28Z")
Travel with a slower, more delicious buddy. As the saying goes, you don’t have to outrun a bear, just outrun the other person! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![curious11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@curious11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious11)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/7 "2010-08-25T20:21:46Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Travel with a slower, more delicious buddy. As the saying goes, you don’t have to outrun a bear, just outrun the other person! 😃 In that case, your “bear spray” should be a squeeze bottle of honey… spray your buddy and run! ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/8 "2010-08-25T20:24:23Z")
Wear a Packers’ jersey. Then Bears won’t be able to get anywhere near you. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/9 "2010-08-25T20:28:33Z")
Bear spray is a great idea but remember the best bear encounter is the one you don’t have (at least not up close…nice to see them at some safe distance). Bears have good noses and will come to inspect smelly stuff (not necessarily food either). Properly bear proof your campsite (mainly garbage and food storage) and be careful with your catch. If the fish you catch are on a stringer hanging from a tree don’t be surprised if a bear comes around to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/10 "2010-08-25T20:39:05Z")
Since this thread is wandering into humor, the following made me chuckle when I first saw it: **NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ADVISORY** In light of the increasing number of bear confrontations with visitors, the National Park Service advises all park visitors to sew small silver bells to their clothing to announce their presence on the trail and prevent them from startling park bears. It is further recommended that everyone should carry pepper spray for their protection. These persons should also familiarize themselves with the sign of these animals and should know the difference between black bear scat and grizzly bear scat. Black bear scat is small and contains berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear scat is much larger and contains small silver bells and smells like pepper spray. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/11 "2010-08-25T20:59:34Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Since this thread is wandering into humor, the following made me chuckle when I first saw it: There should be a rule that any thread related to bears will eventually have this posted. I’ve never seen it fail. ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/12 "2010-08-25T21:08:42Z")
Question from a country without bears… How does bear spray work? I can’t see how you can safetly spray away a bear (I have this image of a deoderant can being waved in a bear’s face). ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/13 "2010-08-25T21:19:19Z")
Get a dog; [these](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karelian_Bear_Dog) guys will take on a bear without hesitation. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/14 "2010-08-25T21:34:22Z")
With black bears, the vast, vast majority of the time, the bear will run away upon detecting you. Sometimes the bear will bluff charge. Very, very infrequently the bear will actually attack a human. Bear spray works by shooting multiple blasts of concentrated pepper spray approximately 30 feet. This is often enough to discourage a bear, who for the most part isn’t really interested in attacking you. The range and ability to shoot multiple blasts is key; different brands have different capacities. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/15 "2010-08-25T23:06:52Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > Question from a country without bears… > > How does bear spray work? > I can’t see how you can safetly spray away a bear (I have this image of a deoderant can being waved in a bear’s face). The stuff is extremely potent. If the bear is within 10 feet of you, and you aim it at their face, it will usually stop them in their tracks. It’s not a fine mist, but a steady stream of really nasty stuff. At Glacier National Park they regularly have to evacuate one of their tour buses because someone set off a small amount of bear spray by accident (no joke). ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/16 "2010-08-26T02:02:19Z")
We do get Black Bears where I live. I have never had them attack anything but the door on my shed. We also have two dogs that set off their doggie alarms when they see a bear, or deer. A few times, we have been staked out by Black bears. They sit and watch the house. When banging pots and pans does not work, I have put a round from a .357 into a tree near them and the noise will make them scoot. I understand that I am in their forest, and do my best to mitigate any reason that they would come after me or my house. To the OP. Bear spray sounds like the best bet. Frankly there are very few guns that I would like to count on if a bear was actually charging me. Personally, I would look at 12 gauge magnum 3 ½ inch shells with double O. If I was on my own and in the trees. Or, if it’s a handgun, .357 or .44 mag. I don’t carry when I hike. But for my home I have a .357 Ruger 6” revolver, and a Marlin 336er in .356win (lever action rifle[it’s uncommon]). Basically, a .308 necked up to .356. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/17 "2010-08-26T10:37:32Z")
There is a step between pepper spray and firearms, [bangers](http://www.google.com/#num=10&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&q=bear+bangers&aq=1&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=bear+banger&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=c2205d923149e390) (they also come as 12 gauge shotgun shells so you can have the option of trying to scare them off before you turn them into dinner :D). CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/18 "2010-08-26T12:39:12Z")
Get a can of practice spray or two, and learn how to spray them so when OMHOLYFUCKABEAR happens your muscle memory can take over. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/19 "2010-08-26T19:19:40Z")
**Evil** has a point. _Learn the proper way to use the spray!_ Bears generally charge on all fours, head down. If you spray it straight ahead–especially when there’s wind–the bear will run right under it. If you spray it while the bear is 200 yards away, it will disperse before he gets to you. If you wait until he’s 10 feet away, your reaction time had better be darned good. They can outrun a horse, and it doesn’t take long to traverse 10 feet. Spray low, start spraying before he enters the effective range of the spray, and don’t spray at all if the bear doesn’t charge. If you choose to carry a gun as well, don’t dink around. As **Martin Hyde** said, even a high-powered hunting rifle won’t necessarily do the job with one shot, and that’s when you have time to take careful aim and the bear isn’t charging. A small-caliber pistol will just piss him off. My .45 would barely be adequate (big caliber, slow muzzle velocity). A .44 magnum would be a better choice. If you carry a .22, you might as well just carry a BB gun. NOTE: I live in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. There are grizzlies here. If you’re talking about black bears, you have a lot less to worry about. They’re smaller, less aggressive, easier to intimidate, and easier to kill. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408/20 "2010-08-26T19:32:59Z")
And wear the bear spray on a hip holster or someplace easy and safe to access. There’s no point having the bear spray in your pack when you need it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bears-protecting-my-self-from-them/551408.md?page=2)