Jun 25

Man Escapes Encounter With Black Bear by Using Bear Spray

This is why I am not a fan of bear spray.

Occurred on June 1, 2022 / Waskesiu Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada

“I was out photographing a bear from a safe distance when it caught scent and sight of me. Normally, I’m used to black bears running away when they’re aware of a person but this bear was behaving oddly. It came towards me and followed me even after I stood my ground, shouted, and waved my arms at it. Luckily I had bear spray and prepared myself to use it if the bear charged at me. I slowly and safely started retreating back to my car and after a couple of minutes of it following me, I decided to start filming. The bear continued to follow me and was getting closer. When I was in a good position with the wind at my back and the bear coming close to me, I sprayed it with the bear spray. Thankfully the bear spray worked as designed and sent the bear running away.”

6 Responses to “Man Escapes Encounter With Black Bear by Using Bear Spray”

  1. Bill F

    He got lucky. Period.
    First thing.. when a BLACK bear is approaching yuo, it is because it sees you as food. It is not curious and is looking for the opportunity to eat your ass. That was the tree climbing behavior it was hoping to be able to use the tree as a launch point to overcome its prey with a weight advantage. I would have put a . 357 in its head well before that.

    Grizzlies will stalk quietly until they can gain a position to charge and wreck you with a surprise attack. Then chew you apart while you are still alive .

    “Bear spray” often has no effect on a bear that is in prey drive, they are programmed to accept pain while killing prey.

    I have spent a large part of my life in bear country, both black and grizz.. I have several friends who have been attacked and mauled.
    If you are trusting your life to a can of spray, you are a damn fool.
    Anyone who has dealt with both will tell you black bears are much more dangerous overall.
    With grizz.. winter bears are the worst.
    Much depends on time of year.. winter and spring they are driven by hunger, had there been show on the ground.. this guy would have been a week long meal.

    His soft tone and weak manners encouraged that bear to look further into making him dinner.

    I have killed three so far.. and I’ll do it again if I have to.

    I don’t carry “bear spray” a magnum pistol loaded with solids or 12 ga. With slugs is proper bear medicine.

  2. Bob B

    This vid is a classic example of a predatory attack by a black bear…luckily for Mr. Bear Spray the bear didn’t follow through. Also of note, a black bears predatory attack will provide ample opportunity to effectively engage and put an end to the attack with a hand gun.

    What happens to the next person this bear encounters? Are predatory attacks by certain black bears a genetic predisposition associated with individual bears; or, a predisposition in all black bears?

    This person was indeed very fortunate. However, they are a fool to rely on a can of bear spray on future outings. Indeed, on this occasion they cheated death of the worse sorts.

  3. theresa m

    He never raised his voice or made himself larger by waving his arms around to even begin to pursuade this bear to leave him alone. Now he knows bear are out in the woods and he was lucky to get out unscathed.

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