Faced with a bear and the sheer omnipotence of the creature before you, looming down on you, you may wonder if your regular pepper spray will be enough to have him turn tail and lumber in the opposite direction. Much the same, when faced with an attacker, regardless of how burley he might be, you may stop to think if the bear spray that you have the same or too strong to use without serious consequences.
Bear spray, even though it may have the same ingredients, is 2-3 times stronger than pepper spray. It is purposefully designed stronger, with a further and broader reach when sprayed than pepper spray so as to effectively deter bears which are 3-10 times the weight of humans.
No one wants to be on the receiving end of a bear attack with pepper spray that does not affect an enraged bear. Much the same, you might not want to use bear spray on a person and be saddled with pesky lawsuits or the permanent injury of the attacker on your conscience. This brings us to the question of the strength of pepper spray and bear spray. Are they equal, or is there a difference?
Read on to learn more about how bear spray compares to pepper spray.
Why is Bear Spray Stronger Than Pepper Spray?
When manufacturers create pepper spray, they have the average human in mind. This means they seek to create a self-defense product that can be used safely on the average human. According to the stats, the average human weighs around 181 pounds (in the US), give or take 20 pounds.
The average bear, however, is quite a bit bigger! Average male black bears can weigh around 600 pounds, with female black bears weighing around 350 pounds. Male brown bears can weigh anything from 400 to 1200 pounds, with females weighing between 300 and 800.
Bear spray is stronger so as to stop bears which can weigh up to 6 times the weight of an average human!
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As you can see, pepper spray for humans doesn’t need to be nearly as potent as bear spray needs to be! And because of that, bear spray is designed to be stronger (or more powerful!) with a cloud presentation instead of a steady narrow stream, as is the case with pepper spray.
Are Pepper Spray and Bear Spray the Same?
Now, you know that bear spray is stronger than pepper spray, but are they the same thing?
As it turns out, bear and pepper spray are not the same. Both of these sprays are made from oleoresin capsicum. But, that said, it is the capsaicin and related capsaicinoids at work in bear spray, which is not the case in pepper spray. So if you buy a canister of spray with “oleoresin capsicum” on the label, it is a personal defense pepper spray that you have, and not bear spray.
The Environmental Protection Agency regulates bear sprays in the US. All bear sprays must be produced with a registration and establishment number. And bear spray labels must clearly state that they are only designed for use on bears.
Regular pepper sprays are not allowed to mention bear deterrents on their labeling. For bear spray to be legal, it must contain 1% to 2% capsaicin and related capsaicinoids. And for a can of bear spray to be viable, it must be 7.9 ounces minimum.
What Makes Pepper Spray & Bear Spray Different?
The difference between pepper spray and bear spray comes down to who/what it will be used on. For instance, these products are designed specifically for humans and bears, respectively, because of the differences between humans and bears. For instance, bears have an olfactory bulb – the part of the brain devoted to smell – five times the size of humans.
Another major difference is that bear spray must shoot further and stick around for long once sprayed. Bear spray can shoot between 20 and 30 feet in a cloud to envelop a charging bear. On the flip side, pepper spray provides a steady stream of spray that can be directed at a human attacker. It’s not designed to shoot quite as far as bear spray!
It goes without saying that the biggest differences between bear spray and pepper spray are:
- How the product is used
- The physical impact on the recipient of the spray
- The ingredients
- The classification of the product
- The distance the product can shoot
- The patterns of each when dispersed
Will Bear Spray Work on Humans and Vice Versa?
As it turns out, bear spray and pepper spray can be effective when used “incorrectly.” That means that bear spray is effective on humans, and pepper spray can be effective on bears. That said, you may find that you’re faced with lawsuits if you use bear spray on someone and are not in a situation where self-defense is necessary. Of course, it’s perfectly legal to buy and carry both pepper spray and bear spray.
The effects of bear spray on humans are incredibly similar to the effects that pepper spray would have on someone. Spraying bear spray at someone or directly into their face, the capsaicin in the spray inflames the eyes and mucous of the lungs and nose, causing temporary blindness, nasal congestion, and difficulty breathing.
The long-term effects of bear spray on human beings have not been studied extensively, and therefore we don’t know the long-term consequences. However, due to the speed at which bear spray is released from the can (almost 70 mph!) and the high levels of capsaicin, bear spray can cause long-term eye damage in its victims.
Using bear spray on humans may also lead to death, as the capsaicin irritates the sinus cavities and lungs, making breathing incredibly difficult. Pepper spray, in general, can prove to be quite lethal, especially in individuals with an allergy to capsaicin. However, if you were to use bear spray on someone and it resulted in their death, you would still be charged with manslaughter, as their death would’ve been preventable.
The Unbearable Effect of Bear Spray on Humans
While bear spray can be used on humans, it doesn’t mean that it should be. Studies have proven that using bear spray on humans can result in permanent injury or damage. Due to bear spray having a higher potency than pepper spray, it can be expected for the recipient of a dose of bear spray to experience unbearable pain. While the effects of bear spray on humans are similar to pepper spray on humans, it can be more extreme. Below are the expected effects when using bear spray on a human:
- Inflamed mucous membranes
- Burning eyes
- Painful burning nose
- Nasal congestion
- Inflammation of the lungs
- Loss of sight (temporary)
- Difficulty catching your breath
Conclusion
If you’re thinking about whipping out a can of bear spray when confronted with a threatening human, think twice. Bear spray is only intended to be used on bears and can cause as much damage to you as to the person you intend to use it on. As bear spray is considered a pesticide, you could be faced with a lawsuit if you use it on someone. That said, bear spray is considerably stronger than regular pepper spray and should be handled with care.
