In a message dated 11/4/2003 3:09:04 PM Central Standard Time, shawnkayak_at_yahoo.com writes: > I should think that pepper spray would be as successful on white bears > as it is on grizzlies...but it's really only effective when the bear is > almost on top of you--it is not a long-range deterrent. > Ever the nature show junkie, I watched a program on Discovery where a Russian biologist studying polar bears in Siberia spent many months a year among them. His only defense while on the ground was a few cans of bear spray. He mostly lived on a platform but was frequently among them. I saw at least one spraying of a fairly large polar bear and there might have been a second. It worked well. My question is: how does one obtain bear spray in Canada? Every time I go there they ask me if I have any which I interperet it being illegal there. Is that true? What hoops does one go through to get any? Rob G *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On our honeymoon, I had to abandon a can of US-made pepper spray at the border on the way into Canada. Supposedly, Canadian pepper spray is limited to 5% capsaicin. Some US-made pepper sprays are 15% capsaicin--more generally the ones marketed to repel human attackers. Thereby implying that two-legged attackers are more vicious than four-legged! I think 'Counter Assault' (which is made right here in Kalispell, MT) is labeled to be in compliance with Canadian regulations, and I believe, can be carried across the border. You need to declare it, they need to inspect it, but I think if it's within specs, they let you keep it. >From their website: http://www.counterassault.com/Canadian_Contacts/canadian_contacts.html " Hiker's are allowed to enter Canada (and re-enter the USA) with US EPA registered bear deterrents for their own use/protection against bear attacks. (The product must return to the US and cannot be sold or remain in Canada.)" Shawn --- Rcgibbert_at_aol.com wrote: > My question is: how does one obtain bear spray in Canada? Every time > I go there they ask me if I have any which I interperet it being illegal there. Is that true? What hoops does one go through to get any? Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On 4 Nov 2003 at 15:20, Shawn Baker wrote: > Supposedly, Canadian pepper spray is limited to 5% capsaicin. I've never seen anything close to that, and I've looked at every brand on the shelf in every store I've been in. It looks like 0.75% is max. If I ever find anything near that strong, I'll buy it. > I think 'Counter Assault' (which is made right here in Kalispell, MT) > is labeled to be in compliance with Canadian regulations Counter Assault's readily available anywhere in Canada. The stuff sold in Canada is 0.75% and looks just like the US stuff that is higher. They're one of the companies that fails to make the distinction clear in their ads and web sites. I really think it's immoral of them to sell the product on the basis of the US ad that states: "Guidelines (established by bear biologists, and wildlife specialists)" ... "1% - 2%" and then sell it as 0.75 in Canada. If folks are ever in need of the stuff and it turns out to be the bear's idea of "people dressing", somebody is out the C$35 and possibly limb or life. Sorta like selling a magnum rifle for bear defence and when you need it, it only fires .22 short. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>My question is: how does one obtain bear spray in Canada? Every >time I go >there they ask me if I have any which I interpret it being >illegal there. Is >that true? What hoops does one go through to get any? No hoops. Just go to any outdoor store and buy it. I've never had difficulty in Western Canada buying it. That said, I've also never had to use it. I've had several bottles and all have either been retired due to expiry date, or were forfeited at at one checkpoint or another when returning from a trip. I haven't looked at the concentration of my various bottles, though I will now. My last one was certainly an American brand bought in Canada. The display had a video looping of a guy with a southern accent hiding behind a tree (and giggling) as a bear approached him, and then he pops out and sprays the bear, who makes a hasty retreat. Wasn't at all thrilled with the video on many levels, but I guess the marketing still worked. I bought that brand rather than another (for which even less info was available on). The only thing resembling "hoops" I've had was back in '94 or so with the first can I bought. At that time you had to sign a registry giving your name and address, when it was purchased. As for troubles at the border, rare is it that I don't find them nitpicking about something or other (either Canadian or American). It can get pretty hard to predict. They have wide enough latitude that they'll enforce whatever is the traveler irritant of the day, regardless of what the "regulations" are, even if you have them in hand. And chances are they'll be applied inconstantly anyway. I tend to just take the silliness in stride and budget on frequent replacing of bear spray cans, bear banger cartridges (which have worked well for me twice), and fuel canisters. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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