Hi Doc,
I have tried to reason my way through bear spray. If it does have efficacy, why? Is it the dense plume of fog that scares it off? Is it the sound of discharging spray that provides efficacy? Or does a bear sense pain from concentrated oleoresin capsicum?
I have sprayed a threatening dog with LE grade OC & it didn't seem to phase it. In contrast, I did spray a suspect who wanted to fight me with OC spray. He surrendered before he could say that he wanted to surrender.
Without knowing why bear spray works, I think it might be dangerous to extrapolate effects of OC spray on nearly all humans to bears. Having had to endure the most unpleasant training of it sprayed in my eyes, I would not want to find myself incapacitated by it with a man eater in my midst.
Just as in self-defense, my preferred plan is avoidance. Were I to learn bears are working an area I want to fish, I'd find another fishing hole. And in the Sierra, there are more fishing holes than bears, thank God.
Take care,
R
