If you own a canister of bear spray, chances are that you’ve expected (at one point or another) to be in a situation with a possible bear attack. If you’ve bought bear spray to protect yourself against other humans, one must wonder why and if it’s even okay to use such a “self-defense” weapon on people.
The question now begs to be answered: Can you use bear spray to defend yourself against people?
While you can use bear on people it if you have it, you shouldn’t, since it is twice as potent as pepper spray, potentially dangerous and even proven to be life-threatening to humans with the possibility of you being charged for using it.
To repeat the labels on bear spray products, bear spray should only be used to protect yourself against bear attacks and not on humans. Bear spray includes capsaicin, the active ingredient in pepper spray, except the levels are twice as high in bear spray.
With this in mind, it’s evident that it’s not entirely safe to use on humans. And there’s evidence to suggest that using bear spray on humans may be fatal – this was certainly the case with Brian Sicknick (a Capitol Police Officer), who died shortly after protestors used bear spray on him. Keep reading to learn more.
Why Bear Spray Isn’t Suitable To Use On Humans
Bear spray made its way onto the market back in the 80s, as more people ventured more into the outdoors and encountered bear attacks more frequently. Given the size of a bear and its strength, the spray was designed to contain the usual chili pepper chemical ingredient called capsaicin but about twice as potent as normal pepper spray made for humans.
The fact that bear spray is designed to be this way is the very reason it’s not suitable for use as a self-defense weapon against other people. It’s not just dangerous to use on a person but could cause permanent physical disabilities such as respiratory problems, chemical burns, eye damage or even death as proven.
The details of this can be found in a review of studies on the impact of chemical irritants on humans completed in 2017. Considering that a bear spray canister contains potency 10,000 times more powerful than habaneros you can buy in-store, the danger is obvious!
Can I Legally Use Bear Spray On A Human And Claim Self-Defense?
You may be wondering why on earth this is even a question someone would ask. And the simple truth is that bear spray has been strategically hauled out of many a violent protestor’s satchels and dispersed on the crowd.
NEWS
Unfortunately, many civilians have resorted to using bear spray when attending protests – to be used on police and crowd control officials and opposing protesting teams or groups. In some instances, bear spray has been used in robberies to debilitate people and thus help criminals carry out their unscrupulous tasks.
Any medical or emergency room physician who has dealt with a victim of a bear spray attack will tell you that bear spray is nothing like regular mace or pepper spray designed for use on humans. In fact, it is currently being used by some people as an actual weapon – and it should be viewed as such when used on a human.
LEGAL ACTION
Although it’s not explicitly illegal to use bear spray on people, you can still get sued or arrested if you’re not acting in self-defense. In addition, because of the high potency and volume, it’s highly unsafe to use bear spray on humans.
Generally, you can only use bear spray to defend yourself when in grave danger and not for pranks or trending videos. People who used bear spray as a weapon against police in riots or to commit robberies have been charged.
What’s the Danger Of Using Bear Spray On Humans?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates bear spray as a pesticide, and it features a warning label saying it can be hazardous to humans and cause permanent eye damage when sprayed at a close range.
According to the Alaska Department for Fish and Game (ADFG), you should treat bear spray as a weapon because it leaves the can at speeds of over 70 miles per hour. In addition, the same qualities that give bear spray a good chance of hitting a bear make it more dangerous when used against humans.
Although it is more unlikely that bear spray can kill a human, it delivers a higher dose of capsaicin than pepper spray. As a result, it affects humans similarly to how it affects bears and can cause irritation and swelling in the mucous membranes of the eyes, lungs, and nose… only worse.
EFFECTS
Bear spray and other tropical irritants temporarily affect people’s ability to breathe and see freely. Studies also show that some people can experience acute increases in blood pressure, increasing the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
For one journalist in the same article in the NBCNews expressed how it caused excruciating pain that sent her to the emergency room, and she only felt relief after three shots of fentanyl. Others who have been sprayed with bear spray describe the burning sensation as the worst pain they’ve ever been in.
“In 2021, a police officer died after being sprayed with bear spray during the Capitol riots. Two people were charged, and although the officer was found to have died of natural causes, the bear spray may have exacerbated his condition.”
Washingtonpost.com
Is Bear Spray Better Than Pepper Spray For Self-Defense?
- From a usability perspective, pepper sprays usually come in smaller containers to easily carry around and deploy. Bear sprays come in more significant volumes and are generally too cumbersome to tuck in your back pocket.
- The delivery method between bear spray and pepper spray is also different. Pepper spray is safer and easier to deploy.
- Pepper spray dispenses in short bursts, making it easy for an appropriate amount of spray to reach a human attacker. It also helps you conserve the contents in case you need to deal out another dose to the assailant.
- Bear spray is usually delivered in a continuous stream and lets out a higher volume from 25 feet or more. Although it’s more potent, it can be challenging to aim at close quarters, making it less effective against a human attacker.
- You can also inhale the bear spray simultaneously with the attacker because of the spray pattern, limiting your escape as you experience pain and obstructed breathing and eyesight.
For a more comprehensive conclusion to this section, we went into more detail here at Bear spray Verses Pepper Spray – do you think it’s interchangeable?
Final Thoughts
Bear spray is potentially dangerous and unsafe for humans. It’s only intended for use against bears, and it may not be a better defense tool than pepper spray against humans. However, it can help you escape an attacker if it’s the only thing available. Always question yourself; are you using the spray to protect yourself, or are you trying to inflict severe injury on your attacker?
