02-22-2010, 03:59 PM
Can't say I've used pepper spray before, but I have heard that given the right scenario your concerns would be valid. Specifically spraying into the wind for instance. Other than that I don't think it would be a big problem. The propellants shoot that stuff out there a ways. Your plan for dealing w/ a bear would be pretty good, w/ the addition of first "calmly" talking to the bear, then if it continued to be agressive (come towards you) escelate your voice and size. I've read numerous books on bear confrontations and the "professionals" recomendations about how to confront a bear keep coming up w/ the same ideas. However they also all admit there are times where nothing follows the rules.
As for cougars, if they really wanted us I think that we would be in huge trouble. They do prefer to avoid us for the most part. Almost all cases of cougar attacks I've heard the person attacked has been alone, the cat young and/or malnourished and a lot of times the person ran igniting the chase instinct. I do know of cases where these rules were not the case, but for the number of cats we have I think we have very little to worry about. However I don't blame you for carrying a gun in their yard in the case you are the exception[
]. I know I do.
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As for cougars, if they really wanted us I think that we would be in huge trouble. They do prefer to avoid us for the most part. Almost all cases of cougar attacks I've heard the person attacked has been alone, the cat young and/or malnourished and a lot of times the person ran igniting the chase instinct. I do know of cases where these rules were not the case, but for the number of cats we have I think we have very little to worry about. However I don't blame you for carrying a gun in their yard in the case you are the exception[
]. I know I do.[signature]