# Will a regular person with a chainsaw kill a charging Grizzly bear? Who wins and dies? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 23, 2023, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524 "2023-03-23T00:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/121 "2023-03-24T22:03:13Z")
Luckily @Breckdawrek doesn’t have to worry about grizzlies in Arkansas, unless she wanders into the bear cage at the Little Rock Zoo. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/122 "2023-03-25T00:26:10Z")
It’s a tiny juvenile black bear. We have a special permit because he’s a nuisance bear. According to the AGFC. I’m not so sure. He’s never wandered into the area around the house. Or got in the trash or dog kennel. He keeps the piglet population down. Not enough. But I’m not stupid. He’ll die if he’s coming after me if I get a good shot. And again, like @Bullitt says it takes grit and a cool head to be able to do that. When fear gets to you it does bad things to ability. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/123 "2023-03-25T01:29:09Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Oh, great! I’ve been stalked by a bear for 3 or 4 years now. For real. Clearly we have a bear with good good good taste! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/124 "2023-03-25T03:13:09Z")
If you’re going to slice a grizzly with a chainsaw,. You better time your swing just right, because you won’t get a second swing. Here’s how fast the whole thing is going to go down: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LUj5DjuFzV4/maxresdefault.jpg "Wild Bear attacks after release") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUj5DjuFzV4) ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/125 "2023-03-25T03:13:46Z")
I know this isn’t a serious thread, and I acknowledge the appeal of increasing the challenge by lowering your advantage, but anything that’s going to cause the animal that much suffering is way uncool. I would hesitate to call them hunters. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2023, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/126 "2023-03-25T13:05:21Z")
Slow down there, buckaroo. He was not calling them hunters. He was calling hunters hunters. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/127 "2023-03-26T04:05:53Z")
[http://www.nationnewsarchives.ca/article/man-fights-bear-with-chainsaw/](http://www.nationnewsarchives.ca/article/man-fights-bear-with-chainsaw/) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/128 "2023-03-26T05:08:45Z")
^^ Sounds like a tie. ---
**Author:** ![Stana\_Claus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stana_claus/32/13874_2.png) [@Stana\_Claus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stana_Claus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/129 "2023-03-26T12:41:10Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > You know how they say you can tell apart a black bear and a grizzly bear? The grizzly has bells stuck in its teeth and its mouth smells like bear spray… The way I heard it was about distinguishing black bear poop from grizzly bear poop. The grizzly’s poop has little bells in it and smells faintly of pepper. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/130 "2023-03-27T02:18:39Z")
This is an old classic (often with different locations other than Montana): Montana Grizzly Bear Notice: In light of the rising frequency of human/grizzly bear conflicts, the Montana Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while in the field. We advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle the bears that aren’t expecting them. We also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear poop. Black bear poop is smaller and contains a lot of berry seeds and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear poop has little bells in it and smells like pepper spray. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/131 "2023-03-27T02:22:13Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > You know how they say you can tell apart a black bear and a grizzly bear? Another version I have heard: If you are not sure if the bear chasing you is a black bear or a grizzly bear, climb a tree. If the bear climbs up the tree to get you, it’s a black bear. If the bear knocks over the tree to get you, it’s a grizzly. ---
**Author:** ![Stana\_Claus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stana_claus/32/13874_2.png) [@Stana\_Claus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stana_Claus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/132 "2023-03-27T12:56:22Z")
When we visited Glacier National Park way back when, one of the Park Rangers shared that info with us along with the similarly helpful information that grizzlies have an extra set of molars compared to black bears. So, if you want to know which one is eating you all you have to do is count its teeth! ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/133 "2023-03-27T13:02:12Z")
Besides its poop having small bells and smelling like pepper spray, it’ll occasionally have a cell phone too. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/134 "2023-03-27T13:31:48Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Besides its poop having small bells and smelling like pepper spray, it’ll occasionally have a cell phone too I think you’re confusing bears with Spinosaurus ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/135 "2023-03-27T13:40:57Z")
…or, Chuck Norris. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/136 "2023-03-27T14:08:45Z")
Yes of course. Thanks for the corrections. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/137 "2023-03-27T16:49:23Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > That’s [a pike](https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/pikes-a-versatile-and-deadly-weapon/). Pikes are very effected in quantity but the likelihood of impaling a charging bear is not great. Despite their bulk and deceptively lumbering normal movement, bears are quite fast and surprisingly nimble. They have relatively poor eyesight so they may not perceive the pike in a forward aspect but I wouldn’t want to bet my life on it. [Perhaps a different polearm](https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0136.html)? > [@Bullitt](#): > > Has bear spray ever failed against a grizzly? I’m betting it has but I’d have to look that up. Well… [![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1528728345260789760-2-png__700.jpg) ](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1528728345260789760-2-png__700.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/138 "2023-03-27T20:23:15Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > > [@Babale](#): > > > > You know how they say you can tell apart a black bear and a grizzly bear? > > Another version I have heard: > > If you are not sure if the bear chasing you is a black bear or a grizzly bear, climb a tree. If the bear climbs up the tree to get you, it’s a black bear. If the bear knocks over the tree to get you, it’s a grizzly. Or…if the Black Bear climbs up the tree WITH you, there is a Grizzly chasing the both of you. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/139 "2023-04-01T17:00:50Z")
Sooo, we had a chain saw injury come into the ER yesterday, I am definitely sticking with my statement that making contact with the bear’s face would get it to leave you alone. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524/140 "2023-04-01T18:50:12Z")
The problem with using a chainsaw against a brown, or polar bear is to have any effect, the bear needs to be nearly upon you before it can inflict any damage (and it may not be lethal damage). A bear charging at speed will be on top of you less than a second after you buzz him, and he won’t be dead—just pissed. I see no way to walk away from a grizzly bear/chainsaw encounter unscathed or un-dead. And, unless you’re an expert marksman with something like a .500 S&W Magnum and nerves of steel, your chances aren’t much better with a typical self-defense gun. I believe the only way to drop a bear immediately with a gun is to sever its brain stem. You may have to ask the bear to stop while you look up where the brainstem is in your _Atlas of Grizzly Bear Anatomy_, then ask him to turn around so you can shoot him in the back of the head. I’m not so sure he’d comply with your request. [Most experts](https://igbconline.org/be-bear-aware/bear-spray/) agree that your best chance of survival against a charging brown or polar bear is with [bear spray](https://outsidebozeman.com/nature/bear-spray-vs-guns#:~:text=Science%20and%20experience%20has%20shown%20us%20time%20and,reach%20for%20your%20bear%20spray%2C%20not%20your%20gun.). The experienced fellow in the video within [this link](https://www.bushcraftpro.com/bear-spray-vs-gun-one-will-save-wild/) says, _if you decide to bring your .45, or your .40, or your 9mm and you see a bear charging at you, please, instead of shooting the bear, just shoot yourself and do yourself a favor…_[snip] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524.md?page=8)