When embarking on a camping trip or any other kinds of outdoor expedition there are many supplies that you need to bring along, and one of them is bear pepper spray. I know some of you are probably smirking at the thought—how often do you really encounter a bear on a camping trip, right? A lot more often than you think, especially if you are anywhere in so-called bear country: Alaska, Canada, or even the seemingly harmless Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. In all of these areas, bear attacks can come out of nowhere and you need to be alert and prepared. The last thing you want is to be on the receiving end of a bear charge. Bear pepper spray is a last line of defense in the event that a furry friend decides to get too close for comfort. Carrying bear pepper spray on you can be the difference between life and death.
There are many kinds of bear pepper sprays on the market and they can usually be purchased online and they are worth every penny. Here are a few reasons why it is crucial that you take bear pepper spray on your next journey into bear country:
- Bear attacks are often unprovoked: It is a mistake to assume that bears will leave you alone if you leave them alone. Bears are extremely territorial and fiercely protective of their young, so it is extremely dangerous to encounter one in the wild—even if you do nothing, turn and walk away, or spot them from a distance, they will come after you and come after you fast.
- Bears attacks are lightning fast: In the snap of a finger, a huge, muscle bear can be on top of you and can quickly maul you to bits. They are not slow or stupid—they are speedy and attack with precision.
- Bears can appear anywhere at any time in the wild: It is very easy to come face to face with a bear, even if you are hiking on what you believe to be a safe trail. Turn the corner and boom! You could come face to face with a mamma Grizzly and her cubs. Hiking in the wild means you are going through the bear’s territory, and thus you cannot expect that there are any truly safe places.
Carrying bear pepper spray sounds corny, but it can save your life on the hiking trail or at your campsite. While many might cringe at the thought of making a bear, maybe even thinking it is cruel, bears on the other hand do not negotiate—when they feel threatened, they kill. It is up to you to take extreme safety measures whenever you venture into the wild, and carrying bear pepper spray will make you that much safer wherever you decide to go.