Home / News / State And Regional News Wildlife officials urge caution as bears emerge in Wyoming

actual link: http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_485c2355-3992-5a62-b958-4658595b1e93.html

operative quote:

"Bear managers are cautioning people to carry a defense in bear country, such as pepper spray, and to be aware of bear activity. Last year saw a rise in bear-human conflicts, including two rare cases [Soon to become much more common] of fatal grizzly maulings and bear managers say there is no way to predict the level of conflicts in store for this season."

So when I read the line: "Bear managers are cautioning people to carry a defense in bear country, such as..." to Doris, I paused and Doris chimed in on cue "a big powerful gun!"  We both laughed loudly in the Busy Bee Resturant in Buffalo Wyoming.

So first I wonder if anyone has done any effectiveness studies on pepper Spray and Grizzlie bears, or has everyone been eaten so nobody can say one-way-or-the-other if it is effective. I also wonder who are those guys,"bear managers" are these people who have personal experience stopping a charging Grizzly from eating them by spraying Pepper Spray?  If the article had been clear about the "bear managers" qualifications - like "Mr. Jones survived, without a scratch, a 2004 attack by a  1500 pound Grizzly known as "Killer" by spraying it with Pepper Spray" I would surely follow their advice. However I have never read about a charging Grizzly being stopped by Pepper Spray. I have read about charging Grizzly Bears being killed by people with guns. What attacks I have read about some survived - barely, the rest died. They probably sprayed to their hearts content but failed to hit the Grizzly anywhere in its face; A charging Grizzly galloping at 20 to 30 miles per hour is formidable and not a good target for a terrified novice.

My -little knowledge- recommendation is carry a firearm. Specifically a large caliber handgun or revolver. Carry it uncovered, holstered in front - in easy reach of your dominante hand. The reason is - in case you startle a bear and he is on top of you before you can fire - your hand will instinctively already be on the weapon so you can pull it and fire in close improving your chances of survival.

The other thing about firearms is you can practice and prepare for a bear attack - over and over and over perfecting speed, agility and evasive manuvers while firing. With Pepper Spray how many containers can you possibly use to perfect a technique? Can you prepare to spray in wind, rain and while evading? What happens if the bear pounces and the Pepper Spray is not deployed - do you still use it, or will it infuriate the bear more and cause you more harm? In the article they do mention "a bear spray demonstration." Is this going to be an infuriated animal charging full speed looking to kill the sprayer? I.E. true to the real world and valid. The point is defensive methods must be practiced and a gun is ideal for practice and it erases the uncertainties of Pepper Spray.

The final thought: Wyoming will not stand for such a dangerous situation to engulf it's tourism trade. Wyoming is all about getting and taking people into the wilderness to enjoy it's amazing scenery. It cannot tolerate site seers, vacationers and tourists - especially foreign tourists - being mauled and eaten in the back country by Grizzly Bears. The tourism trade will not be able to absorb the liability insurance costs such a dangerous undertaking will require.