At 02:31 PM 9/26/2003 -0700, Atwood, Tim (DVM) wrote:
>Let's be clear here: I am talking about mace designed for bears. Not the
>little things people carry in purses. Up here they are only legal for people
>who can prove they work in bear areas. The can is closer to the size of a
>paint spray can. You wear it in a holster on your belt. They have a special
>nozzle that shoots the mace up to 10 meters so you can hopefully stop the
>bear before it gets to you. Believe me it is still pretty hard to hit a fast
>moving bear right in the eyes. But at least you have a chance.

Bought one when we took a group of scouts into Wind River range in WY
backpacking.  Seems some varieties also put-up sort of a 'shield' so that a
bear
has to come through it, which helps with the issue of having to do a direct
hit in the eyes.

Learned that since the Bridger Nat'l Forest was established, there has been
1 death due to bear, and 117 deaths due to moose.  Seems people have been
sensitized quite well about bear/grizzly, but don't realize that a moose can
be just as dangerous and will charge if they feel you're encroaching too close.
And that's a 1,200-1,500 lb animal that can run fast (like a horse) and whose
means of defense is to lower its head and ram....

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