A fatal grizzly bear attack on 70 year-old botanist Erwin Evert on the Shoshone National Forest near Yellowstone Park has rekindled a simmering feud about whether to use bear spray or firearms for self-defense against bears.
At the Casper Star-Tribune, one commenter says, "bear spray has been proven more effective than firearms."
Another commenter replies, "I carry a gun in the woods and while I don't go looking for trouble, I won't let a bear have a chance to kill me. The only thing bear spray is good for is to make bear scat smell bad. It does not work because it only has a range of 10 feet or less."
The Interagnecy Grizzly Bear Committee and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department relentlessly promote bear spray. In response to a high number of grizzly bear deaths in the Yellowstone region in 2008, the #1 recommendation for a 2009 "Yellowstone [grizzly bear] mortality and conflicts reduction report was, "better outreach and education on the value of bear spray." (p.21)
The National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming game and fish departments all vowed to increase past efforts to promote bear spray.
Significantly, when the Park County Sheriff's Department's search and rescue team when into the woods to retrieve the body of Erwin Evert, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department wardens who accompanied them did not rely on bear spray. According to a Park County Sheriff's Department press release, game wardens "provided armed security."
Comments
In this instance, neither pepper spray nor Smith & Wesson would've helped the victim or changed the outcome. The bear and man surprised each other at very close range, and the bear likely killed him nearly instantly with one swipe at arm's length. Any debate about whether --or even IF---pepper spray or a gun would have been preferable , is moot. By the way , wildlife agents tracked the bear by helicopter and killed it Staurday. So this is a double tragedy.
The commeneter above opened his mouth before doing any research. FRONTIERSMAN Bear Attack Deterrent deploys 35 Feet. Visit www.sabrered.com
It's totally the fault of the researchers. There has to be a better way to release the bears than to put them in known hiking areas where people are in residence. Research is great, but how much are they learning now that's different from fifty years ago, really? Maybe the bears need a break.
The violent death of a 70-year old man is a tragedy. The resultant death of a grizzly is not.
From what I've read I don't know if either a gun or bear spray would have solved the problem of someone who totally disregards all warnings and puts themselves in harms way. I do endorse and use bear spray when I'm out hiking. Counter Assault has a great comparison chart showing all the bear spray stats. Visit www.counterassault.com/html/specifications.html It was a tragedy that both the man and the bear died when common sense and heeding the warnings could have prevented both outcomes.
I work and recreate in north-western Canada and we have lots of black bears and grizzly bears. I also teach Bear Safety training and use inert spray to show people how far it goes and how long it lasts. I have never seen bear spray go a distance of 35 feet but I am aware that some manufacturers claim it does. I have had a few close encounters with bears through work and while off work. Honestly I rely on brains before bullets but have carried a shotgun on occasion but I don't rely on it as a saving grace. Unless you are lucky and trained in the use of firearms in these situations don't bet your life on that firearm saving your bacon. If you spend time in bear country it's wise to learn everything you can about them and recognize their body language and vocalizations - same ones they use with each other - they cannot afford to get in fights all the time for fear of being wounded and thus unable to defend and feed themselves. They will avoid you 99 times out of a hundred.
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