The idea that a can of pepper spray will keep a 500-pound grizzly bear from attacking seems ridiculous. You may as well use the spray on yourself and hope the bear doesn't like spicy food, or so you would think. But as improbable as it sounds, the spray works. Personnel in Yellowstone National Park have used the spray to stop two grizzly attacks, and the Park Service is recommending anyone hiking in grizzly country carry a can. Some people will say they have heard all this before.
Pepper spray is just the latest and greatest in a long line of bear repellents.
In the past, people have recommended mothballs and air horns to stop bear attacks. Of course Yellowstone grizzlies have been seen eating mothballs, according to writer and historian Paul Schullery. And the idea that a loud noise will scare an animal capable of making some pretty loud noises on its own doesn't seem likely. When buying pepper spray, make sure it is designed specifically for use against large animals, said Mark Matheny, founder of Universal Defense Alternative Products, which makes one of the most popular bear sprays on the market. The spray should be oil based, a 10 percent solution and have a range of about 30 feet.