Bear spray gaining credibility

Inter Lake editorial

It wasn't that long ago, less than a decade, when there were widespread doubts about the effectiveness of pepper sprays in deterring aggressive bears.

Even Glacier National Park officials were once reluctant to fully endorse or recommend bear sprays.

But that perception has gradually and correctly changed, largely because of a growing number of encounters where the stuff actually worked. Most recently, 71 encounters involving bear spray and aggressive bears in Alaska were analyzed in a study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management. Bear spray was effective in 98 percent of those cases.

That's a fairly impressive track record, especially considering that one of the study's authors is pursuing parallel research, finding that firearms have been effective in only 67 percent of 300 encounters that have occurred in Alaska over the last 100 years.

Eliminating a stigma associated with bear sprays and a myth that guns are the best protection from bears could be a consequential trend.

"It is our belief that widespread use of bear spray will promote human safety and bear conservation," the study's authors concluded.

The use of non-lethal bear spray is relevant for this region, home of the largest population of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. It is a population that is threatened and is listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act, and every year, people have some type of unwanted encounter with these bears.

Glacier Park now strongly recommends that visitors carry bear spray for their protection while hiking on park trails.

That recommendation is largely based on incidents that have occurred in the park, where bear spray has proven to be effective.

Before bear spray, guns were the only answer, and usually with a fatal outcome for bears.

It just doesn't need to be that way anymore.

Although guns will continue to be an appropriate alternative in some cases.