Bear spray is a good tool, but like any tool people need to understand how to use it and, perhaps as importantly, how not to use it. I noticed something in an article I refered to elsewhere that I had heard before, but always had a hard time believing was true:

Herrero said he frequently encounters people dousing their tents and packs with bear spray like it was mosquito repellent.

I really don't understand how people could come to the conclusion that bear spray works that way, but it doesn't. The article continues:

But while bear spray’s irritating chemicals will make an attacking bear break off its charge, the oils and solvents that keep it liquid are a food source in more relaxed situations.

“We’ve found it works as an attractant, and it remains a strong attractant for 24 hours or more after spraying,” Herrero said. He spoke of one man who laid a cloud of spray around his campsite, only to spend the night in a tree while several bears came to investigate.

Just a heads up I guess in case anyone browsing this forum wonders about using bear spray as a preventative bear avoidance measure.

It's also a good reminder that if we ever have to use bear spray in a defensive manner (i.e., the right way!) that we should vacate the area as soon as possible and try to clean ourselves & our gear up as best we can.

I'm not sure I ever would have thought to use bear spray like bug spray. Now I'll know in case the idea ever pops up. Thanks for the heads up.

Does bear spray work on coyotes? I have been told by several other hikers that coyotes have stalked them in my favorite hiking spot. one guy said 3 of them surrounded him on a trail. this being the PR of IL, the most effective defense against coyotes is prohibited by law, so I was thinking maybe bear spray would work.

Regardless of any close encounter with any bear and regardless of any deterrent used; ie: bear spray, beating the bear with a stick, playing dead, climbing a tree etc. Once the imminent threat of a bear attack has subsided and there are no dire life threatening injuries that cannot be wait to be stabilized, it is always strongly recommended that you and your group vacate the area as a precaution to prevent a possible 2nd confrontation.

All seriousness aside, that is a pretty funny fail.

ILBob, I think Bear Spray is the same thing as pepper spray for humans. I believe that the main difference is the size of the container and percentage of OC. approx 1% OC for humans and approx 2% OC for bears. Since the container is larger and can hold more propellant, it can be sprayed further than a keychain sized container of OC spray. It also has more material to spray. I can't imagine this not working on a coyote.

I would also think an air horn would also work for coyotes too. They seem to work pretty well for regular dogs...so far.

Bear spray is typically at least 5% OC and I've seen 10%. It's the same thing that's used on humans other than size of the bottle and sometimes OC concentration.

It may or may not work on canids. Some dogs seem to be unaffected by OC, so it's possible that a coyote may not be deterred.

The one time I had a coyote stalking me, it so happened that I was walking to the rifle range. When I unslung the rifle the coyote vanished. I figure it had seen a rifle before and wanted urgently to not see one again.

macecananda.com

I can't say I ever tried it, but this stuff is designed for dogs. Yotes follow me all the time in these parts. Every once in a while I will catch sight of one following my trail but they have always maintained distance. I think they are more curious than anything. I never really considered them a threat.

I don't think I would ever consider spraying down Coyotes with bear spray as there are plenty of better ways to get them to bugger off. I would likely end up getting most of it in my own face by accident and be blind myself. That wouldn't exactly make me feel better in the uber rare occassion I was surounded by maneating dogs.

The bears out here are huge and they do kill people on occassion. I do not fear them but I give them the respect due. As a result I carry bear spray during season and know how to use it properly. They say you stand a better chance of surviving a bear attack using bear spray properly then you would with a firearm. Hope I never have to test that theory.

Strongest EPA approved animal repellent rating is 2.0% Capsaicinoid

I had some that was 10%. To be fair, it was LE grade, but it did have something about repelling some "common animals, such as" and then listed some animals including dogs, bears, and apes. I thought it was hilarious that apes were common around the spray factory.

I once tried it on a dog. It was a very aggressive dog that went after anybody riding a bike on the street in front of his house. I spritzed it at the dog while trying to keep my feet up from his snapping jaws. He ran off, but not yelping in great pain like I had hoped. I turned my bike around to see what the affect had been. I then rode through the invisible left-over cloud. It stopped me. Perhaps I was the ape it referred to.

Really? I think its more a matter of the type/quality of the OC used. In one website below, they compared several sprays.
http://1life1bearspray.com/
One thing to note is whether the spray comes out as a stream or as a thick fog and the distance it can project and the total volume it can spray out. A 30 ft cloud of spray in the bear's path is probably the most effective. But consider this, spray the cloud well before the bear is within 30 ft so that it has to run into it to get to you. A the bear or other animal can make up 30 ft in only a second or two. Putting an obstacle like a tree or a boulder can also give you that extra fraction of a second to defend yourself. And being up wind of the spray is definitely preferable to being downwind!

Anybody here with any practical experience with bear bangers? If one has the time to load up a cartridge and back away from a scene, one could fire off a banger to disuade a curious or menacing animal. Then in the other hand get out the bear spray.

i spend a month a year in bear country,two weeks in the spring,two in the fall.this is in the wilderness canoe area in northern minnesota.i have two sprayers,both are police style because the ones marked for bear use are too expensive and IMO not any better.one is a large foggier and it's carried in a day bag and them set out near the cooking area in camp and then in the tent at night.the small belt size one also is carried in the day bag inside the canoe but on "iffy" portages i put it my pocket."iffy" is hard to nail down but you get an idea of places where you might run into a bear after a while.
the only bears i have ever seen in 25 years were all running away.
i stay away from busy areas where there are well used campsites and try and get off in more remote places,i call them hidden camps,the fire places sometimes have seedlings growing in them.
now about how to use one.i assume that the black bears i might run into are going to be camp bears,some places you have no choice but to camp in a used area.so the bear is not going to come charging out at you,even on the portage i don't think a ambush is at all likely.so you will have a chance to prepare your shot.
first put you arm across your nose and mouth,pull down you hat if you have one to cover more of you face and just before you shoot,if thats the right word,close one eye so if you get blow back one eye will still work.don't aim for the bears head,its too small rather fog the ground in front of it.
bears are like getting hit by lighting,it could,it can and it does, but so seldom where i canoe and camp it's not something i worry about but am ready for.i know it's another story out West.

We got fogged with OC, when it was first issued to us for work. Worked fine on us.

I sure wouldn't use it as an area prophylactic, or elect to spray it on myself--unless I were already in the bear's grip.

^^^^ This! Except in Yellowstone, where they ham it up by the side of the road hoping for (illegal) hand-outs. It might help that my dog is almost always with me. You would think that a 300# bear wouldn't be afraid of sweet old 85# shepherd mutt, but in 13 years that's been the case (either that or I need to change deodorant brands).

I still carry the spray, which kinda stinks because it IS expensive and has a 2-year shelf life. I wouldn't trust smaller canisters made for defense against human aggressors. Supposedly the larger cans have longer range. And as other bears might be attracted to the smell, you might need to defend against multiple targets. I figure if I'm going to spend $45 every two years and put up with the darn thing on my hip it better work if I need it.

Amazing how many animals dont want to mix it up with dogs.Why my mutts are the A#1 defensive item we own,and if your dog messes up a perp its an insurance problem usually,shoot em and you may face serious jail time,and the deterrent factor of mutts,again danged good.

The spray we have puts out a massive cloud,far different from the little key chain style things,whole different critter.I still take the bear spray camping,hey one time we faced a potential attacker/robber,scary,the bear spray coulda stopped him if he hadnt backed out.This was in a state camp ground,secluded (well only the 2 camps,his and buddy and ours at the time)

I was caught flatfooted outside motorhome,wife was prepared to shoot him from inside MH,thank God he decided not to go for it,that they were looking for an easy score and were idiots and not pro's (tweekers).Would have been a disaster,this happened at dusk at Whiskey Creek for you Calif folks.

2 small dogs,....now 2 BIG DOGS.ALWAYS.

Ive learned,danger lurks and you cant be sure what kind,be prepared.With multiple increasing force defensive layers.Bear spray isnt just for Bears if your life is on the line.