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Early Human Settlement in Arctic Alaska

Hey Karl! I've been enjoying your journal entries, but I was shocked at one of your stats from bear training. Pepper spray is successful at stopping a bear 90% of the time but guns are only successful 40% of the time???? Really?!?!? I have my ideas as to why, but...why?? I'm sure glad to hear the info on the pepper spray though b/c I carry a big can with me when I hike. Your bear instructions will be committed to memory!!

Keep sharing!! Michele

Sun, 07/18/2010 - 17:58

Karl Horeis

Hi Michelle - great to hear from you. I know it's surprising about the success rate of pepper spray vs. firearms, huh? I'm not enough of an expert to say exactly why, but I can tell you about two recent cases we studied. In one, a biologist was hiking out alone when he was confronted by a brown bear. He shot it with his 357 handgun which was not a powerful enough round to stop it, so all he did was anger it and ensure an attack. In the other case 3 mountain bikers surprised a sow and her cubs big mistake. She charged and they ran away. They had pepper spray but it was in a back pack. Not until after two had been attacked did the finally get the spray out and use it in the bear's face - after which it immediately fled.
I think pepper spray is really effective on bears because they have such a strong sense f smell and they rel on that sense so much. They are curious and when they meet new interesting creatures (like people) they come sniffing, and pepper spray comes blasting into their face and into their nose causing intense burning. Just make sure you keep it handy on your belt!
How's everything else going? I wish I could invite you to a webinar for our expedition, but we'll only have sat-phone capabilities starting Tuesday.
Keep in touch!
Karl