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Posted by redpatch5 on May 4, 2008 at 9:54:37 pm EDT
In reply to Bear Food Ediquette While Camping Question CO posted by skinny_duck on April 28, 2008 at 12:16:03 am EDT

Hello nogods
Bear Spray. You have thought about standing and placing a spray can between you and a bear????? You are a brave man.
I will defer to Kutenay and his comments as he has seen many more trails than I have. Some on Vancouver Island joke that all you have done is season yourself for the bears pleasure, just as the bear bells are dinner bells for bears. Any way back to the question at hand.

I assume that when cooking that you are aware of the wind force and wind direction. You know where everyone else in your party is. You have notified them of the bear’s presence and your planned response. You as a group have already planned a rally point, maybe more than one? Nothing else that you have tried has worked. You have identified to yourself the line of last resort when you WILL discharge the canister of spray.
You feel very threatened and you discharge the canister. Now just answer a few questions.
Did you remember WHICH WAY the wind is blowing?????
Did you remember How strong the wind is blowing???
Was there any discharge of spray? Did you hit the bear with the spray????
Did you track the spray onto the bear????
Did you spray enough onto it to make it stop????
Has it turned and moved away????

You may have just sprayed a member or more of your party. That member may have breathing problems besides the ones they are currently going though. They will not be mobile. Another member of the party will have to guide them from the area. They may die from that spray. Emergency Medical Assistance may be hours/days away.

Not out of the woods yet.
Are you sucking pepper spray????? You are in more trouble and much more discomfort that you probably have ever been in. What now? Can you think of the right things to do right now to make yourself and others safe??? Can you see if the bear is still approaching?
NOW WHAT???? You may be out of spray, where are you in relation to the camp??
Is there anyone around to help?? Is there anything you can use to defend against an angry/injured wild animal that lives and dies by its claws????

All this happening very quickly. For what? Your supper????

Best response is that you back away from the stove/food while you find a sharp knife and allow the animal to eat. Notify your group members. Keep backing away until you are out of sight of the bear. Do not let go of the knife. As soon as possible report the incident to a responsible government agency. Leave the pepper spray at home, or better yet, don’t buy it in the first place.

Think about, talk about, plan this type of thing before you go into the woods to start.
I hope that you NEVER have to use this type of thing.

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• Re: Bear Food Ediquette While Camping Question CO - Mr Haze 12:57:23 05/15/2008

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