Brown bears like pepper on their food...
Brian Dixon
Embargoed For Release: 10 February 1998 at 17:00 ET US
Contact: Catherine Haecker
Catherin...@usgs.gov
703-648-4283
United States Geological Survey
Contact: Tom Smith
Tom_...@usgs.gov
(907) 786-3456
United States Geological Survey
Red pepper spray, commonly used by people in bear country to ward off
aggressive bear attacks, may actually attract brown bears if used
improperly, according to preliminary research by a wildlife ecologist at the
USGS Alaska Science Center in Anchorage.
In research recently submitted for publication in the Wildlife Society
Bulletin, USGS researcher Tom Smith emphasized that although the spray is a
proven deterrent in some encounters with aggressive bears, red pepper spray
is not a bear repellent when applied to objects such as tents, food
containers, clothing or other personal belongings, "nor is it claimed to be
by most manufacturers." In fact, noted Smith, pepper spray manufacturers
normally suggest that the spray should be used preventively. Although it is
not presently known exactly what the attracting agent in the red pepper
spray is, the irritant oleoresin capsicum is the only ingredient common to
all the sprays tested.
Smith said that although research has shown that red pepper spray is highly
effective as a deterrent in aggressive grizzly and brown bear encounters
when sprayed directly in a bear's eyes or nose, his pilot study shows that
spray residues did attract brown bears when used in nonaggressive
situations. Brown bear responses to red pepper spray-treated sites in his
study ranged from mere sniffing to whole body rolling in the residues, an
uncommon bear behavior.
The spray is often carried as a bear protection method by hikers, campers,
biologists, rangers, hunters, and other outdoor enthusiasts. The carrying of
red pepper spray has been encouraged in some national parks where bears are
common and firearms are prohibited. Some state wildlife and game agencies
have also been encouraging the carrying of the spray in bear habitats.
Smith's investigations have found that "instances of people inappropriately
applying red pepper spray to objects in order to repel bears are not
uncommon." His research suggests that red pepper spray used in this manner
may actually "promote" attraction to spray-treated sites or objects by brown
bears.
"If my study observations hold true elsewhere, then red pepper spray
residues on the spray canisters, field gear, or on foliage near camps or
other human high-use areas may provide sites of interest to brown bears and
consequently risk human safety," Smith warned. In back country areas where
hikers and researchers may use the same location for extended times,
continuing indiscriminate use of the spray could cumulatively create a
potentially harmful situation for the next person who uses the campsite,
Smith said. "We are concerned that if red pepper spray is used in this
inappropriate manner, it may attract bears, result in property damage, or a
confrontation."
The impetus for Smith's study came after he observed a brown bear rolling
vigorously in beach gravel that had been inadvertently sprayed with red
pepper spray five days previously. A surprised Smith watched bears on their
backs, paws skyward, vigorously rubbing their heads and back in the red
pepper-sprayed gravel. Before this observation, Smith had never seen brown
bears behave in such an unusual manner.
Smith noted that red pepper spray is a stable, weather-resistant compound
that apparently does not lose its attractant, or irritant, properties
quickly. This suggests "that even a single discharge has the potential to
attract brown bears for a significant amount of time," he said.
Smith's preliminary study involved spraying red pepper on gravels along the
Kulik River in Katmai National Park and then observing brown bear responses
to red pepper residues from a blind. He recorded both normal and abnormal
bear behavior at or near these study sites. In his pilot study, Smith said
that brown bears approached the treated sites 40 times, with the spray
eliciting interest more than 50 percent of the time and no response 40
percent of the time. However, Smith noted that in all instances where bears
showed no response to the treated soils, strong winds were observed that may
have "whisked the scent directly away from the bears, calling into question
whether they could have scented the spray at all."
Other unusual brown bear behavior Smith recorded on the sprayed sites
included numerous instances of sniffing, pawing, licking, rubbing their
heads in the soil, and rolling on the sites in a manner similar to cats
rolling in catnip. Before this study, Smith had spent more than 750 hours
observing brown bears at Kulik River. "During that time," he said, "I had
never seen bears rubbing their heads on the ground, pawing and licking
soils, or rolling on their backs."
These novel behaviors, said Smith, arise directly from exposure to red
pepper spray-treated soils, and "hence my concern about indiscriminate or
improper use of these sprays in bear country."
"In no cases," said Smith, "were bears seen to be deterred from, or actively
avoiding, red pepper spray-treated sites. These observations," he added,
"raise serious concerns regarding the appropriate use of red pepper spray
and identify a need to educate users as to potentially harmful side effects
of their indiscriminate use as a repellent agent."
Scent, of course, is what bears rely on most to locate food in their
environment, which is why campers and other backwoods users are encouraged
to carefully rid their tents and sleeping areas of articles that might
smell, including toothpaste, food and soap. Unfortunately, said Smith, red
pepper spray, besides being an effective deterrent when sprayed in a bear's
face, is also essentially --scent in a can-- that bears may be attracted to.
Smith urged that until further research is conducted, people who carry red
pepper spray in bear country should not test-fire newly purchased red pepper
spray near camps or other human high-use areas. As an additional
precaution, Smith advises that once fired, the canisters should not be kept
in or near the tents of sleeping persons because of the possibility that red
pepper spray residues on canister nozzles may attract bears.
Smith's work has been reviewed by other bear biologists in the U.S.
Department of the Interior and submitted for publication in the Wildlife
Society Bulletin. In addition, his observations have been anecdotally
supported by other researchers in bear habitat. Smith said USGS will conduct
more research on red pepper spray and bears this year. Smith's future
research will focus on discovering just how attractive red pepper spray is
to bears, the distance at which a bear can scent the red pepper spray, and
if a bear might be attracted to a canister that has been fired and which has
some spray residue on its exterior. Smith's preliminary work showed that
bears were picking the scent up from more than 75 meters away.
As the nation's largest water, earth and biological science and civilian
mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation with more than 2000
organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial, scientific
information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. This
information is gathered in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the
loss of life and property from natural disasters, contribute to the sound
conservation, economic and physical development of the nation's natural
resources, and enhance the quality of life by monitoring water, biological,
energy, and mineral resources.
####USGS####
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NOTE TO EDITORS: Still photographs showing brown bears attracted to study
sites sprayed with red pepper spray can be obtained at the USGS Biological
Resources Division website at
http://www.biology.usgs.gov/pr/newsrelease/1998/29.html
NOTE TO TV PRODUCERS: A 5-second video clip can be obtained from the USGS
website at http://www.biology.usgs.gov/pr/newsrelease/1998/29.html
Additional VHS footage can be obtained by calling Tom Smith (907) 786-3456.
NOTE TO EDITORS AND TV PRODUCERS: To obtain information on research accepted
for publication on the effectiveness of red pepper spray as a bear deterrent
in aggressive bear-human interactions fax Dr. S. Herrero in Calgary,
Alberta, Canada, at 403-284-4399. S. Herrero and A. Higgins. 1998. Field use
of capsicum spray as a bear deterrent. International Conference on Bear
Research and Management. In press.
This press release and in-depth information about USGS programs may be found
on the USGS home page: http://www.usgs.gov. To receive the latest USGS news
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smith.
Pale Ale
of at least a .300 winmag with a 250gr Nozzler Partion. Better yet move up
to a .338 and make sure your legal if you need to use it. For more
information contact Larry Jenson at the USFS Sitka office.
Brian Dixon wrote in message <78td8g$q...@hpcvsnz.cv.hp.com>...