Hiker deters charging griz with bear spray

Daily Inter Lake ^ | October 13, 2011 | JIM MANN

[SJackson]

If you’d like to be on or off this Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

In anticipation of the suggestions as to the proper deterrent, spray works, and is a good first line defence, and isn't everyone's first choice. And more lethal choices fail on occasion.

[the invisib1e hand]

tssssssssssss. take that, you big mean bear!

[gaijin]

I wonder if urban people enjoy this spray? Like cologne, ya know.

[max americana]

Silly hiker. He should have used the peace sign or coexist’ sticker on the bear..

[riverrunner]

I belive the biggest advantage he had was he was ready. He had his spray out.

Spray worked this time good for him.

[PeteB570]

Hey, I’d like to be on your ping list for the outdoors.

I love getting into the outdoors, usually alone.

Been a long time since a beer ran through my camp. A friend got up early one morning and walked off behind a large clump of bushes to do his business.

This was very quickly followed by a large shout “Arrrrrgggggaaaaa” as we all looked over that direction a black bear came around the other side of the brush, straight through camp never looking back and headed for the hills.

About this time my friend came around the other side holding into his pants shouting “BEAR BEAR BEAR” and pointing behind him at the brush.

The camp was rolling on the ground we were laughing so hard.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“spray works, and is a good first line defence, and isn’t everyone’s first choice. And more lethal choices fail on occasion. “

Spray? Okay. But I wouldn’t be without my Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag!

[dfwgator]

As long as you draw your "anti-sea bear circle", you'll be fine

[Billthedrill]

I solo hike that area in the summertime, and oh, yeah, I carry a bear bomb on the belt and another one in the pack. Closest contact I ever had was about 50 yards and he wasn't bothering me but I was still wetting my britches. Beautiful coat on the beastie, though. I don't overnight anymore and I do carry a firearm but an actual attack generally happens too fast and close to get off much of a shot even if you're reasonably skilled. Still awful nice to have, though.

The encounter I'm talking about was the first in that particular area for five years but they're happening with greater frequency now that the population appears to be recovering. Don't be scared, be prepared, and stay smart.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Been a long time since a beer ran through my camp."

Is your camp in a dry county?

[Jonty30]

Make sure you’re aiming in the right direction, otherwise the bear will simply appreciate you preparing yourself with 11 secert herbs and spicesm

[isthisnickcool]

Glad he was not hurt...

Welcome back Mr. Kotter....

[CodeToad]

I could point to stories of people jumping from airplanes with failed parachutes and living, or being shot in the head and living, but that doesn’t give rise to the idea that those things should ever be tried or that we cannot say, “Jump from an airplane without a parachute and you will die” or “Shoot yourself in the head and you will die”.

If a bear to attacks and your only hope is that pepper spray saves you, well, while that bear is eating your head you will wish you hadn’t been so afraid to carry a large bear sized firearm.

[labette]

God smiled on this fellow, plain and simple.

Now, I have nothing against pepper spray. Either way, it’s a win - win situation.

Heads, the spray repels the beast and you live another day.

Tails, it pi$$es him off even more and he kills you so much quicker and mercifully.

[sissyjane]

I love Glacier Park, and never hike without bear spray. Thankfully I’ve not had to use it!

[SJackson]

I belive the biggest advantage he had was he was ready.

You are correct, though he could have asked the griz to wait while he took off his pack.

[blackdog]

"Kotter was hiking alone on the Devil Creek Trail" .........

And that's where the legend began.

[SJackson]

Can’t disagree. Maybe that’s why we have two hands.

[WePledge]

It may have been the stench of feces that deterred the bear.I haven't encountered any grizzlies in my yard so I'll try to stay out of theirs if possible.