Posted on 04/30/2019 5:42:39 PM PDT by SJackson
Grizzly bears are capable of running as fast as 40 mph.
Close encounters with hikers are a risk in the Yellowstone National Park area in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, and park rangers recommend packing protection akin to mace for Manhattan muggers — bear spray.
The grizzly population of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has more than tripled since 1987. About 150 call the park home. The bears were declared a "threatened species" in the lower 48 states in 1975. Grizzly relatives also reside in Alaska.
Non-lethal bear spray — carried in a cartridge resembling a small fire extinguisher — expels "a fine cloud of Capsicum derivatives to temporarily reduce a bear's ability to breath, see, and smell," according to the National Park Service.
That buys time for a quick escape from the agile beasts.
Grizzly bears are roughly 1 1/2 to 2 times larger than black bears, which also roam the area, according to the the park service. Grizzly males weigh between 200 and 700 pounds and females between 200 and 400 pounds.
Adult grizzly bears stand about 3 1/2 feet at the shoulder, can climb trees, run up and down hill, and swim.
(Excerpt) Read more at sltrib.com ...
Reposted in chat rather than news. Former thread is here if you wish to read comments.
I went to Yellowstone in the mid-80’s before the fire. Hardly a grizzly ever in sight.
Went again in 2011 and they were everywhere. Amazing how the population has skyrocketed.
Bear spray doesn’t work either - a guy got killed in the Tetons last year I believe and he used a ton of it.
don’t spray at bear if breeze is blowing toward you.
Everybody needs a .45-70 and learn how to carry/use it.
ping
When visiting Yellowstone, pack
there fixed it
I wouldn't say it doesn't work. Statistics support both sides. Of course I want to be prepared to defend myself when it doesn't.
The interesting thing about statistics. They'll teach you that spray works in a large percentage of cases. Should you kill a bear, you'll learn that a high percentage of charges are bluffs, and break off at about 20 yards. Shoot a charging bear at 50 yards and you'll hear about that from prosecutors. As I do carry spray, on my left side. And would certainly deploy it, at a longer than 20 yard distance. If the bear breaks through the cloud, I'll need the left to steady my right for the maybe one shot I'll get. But I can't help but wonder if the spray is stopping the bears who were bluffing anyway. And the small percentage who aren't, well, so much for the spray. Wonder if it's a crime to spray a bear orange and making his eyes run.
I that was a rude call to kill the other post. Saving your hide from getting eaten by bears is serious news, not just “chat.”
I’ll just pack my lucky ham.
If you use the bear spray at 20 yards, I don’t see how you would possibly have time to squeeze off one shot at the charging griz.
Or a 12 guage with slugs. But are they legal to carry openly in National Parks? Don't think so. I'm not sure open carry is legal in parks, though I've never checked. You're stuck with the concealed carry option.
Ping!
You wouldn’t. I mention the 20 yard statistic only because I’ve read it’s the standard which would be used in determining if you acted in self defense. For no good reason at all I’d be more inclined to use spray on black bears. Probably because I’ve seen them acting like big racoons off and on since I was a kid and I underestimate the very real threat they represent.
We went to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons last summer. We saw one grizzly in Yellowstone, mama black bear and cubs in the Tetons and grizzly mama and cubs in the Tetons. We didn’t buy bear spray but saw some for rent in the cafe/gift shop area.
Old joke about telling grizzlies from black bears.
First, the ranger warned that anyone in the back country should wear a bell to give audible notice to the bears, and carry bear spray.
You tell grizzlies from black bears by the scat. Black bear scat has berries, nut hulls and small animal skins in it.
Grizzly scat has small bells and smells like bear spray.
I agree.
Governsleastgovernsbest blog Pimpin’ Moanin’ Schmoe postings are totally Fake News posts.
It’s apparently just the way it is...
Pack biggest revolver you can handle. (because you’ll want to get off a second shot before the bear is on your lap)
I didn’t mean to imply anyone has said only to use the spray at 20 yards, but don’t think most are effective much past that. Especially in wind. But they do make a very large, dense cloud, and if you’re upwind I might use it. If not upwind you’re just incapacitating yourself, and providing seasoning for the bear.
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