You would think that buying bear spray should be pretty straight forward;
1. Walk into a shop
2. Pick it up off the shelf
3. Pay for it
4. Take it home
No. Not so simply neddy!
Because I am heading back into the Canadian wilderness, and yes Jak, camping this time in ‘Bear’ country, I thought that it might be an idea for us to have some Bear spray with us, ‘just in case’. Plus it seems that a number of hiking trails are recommending or requiring you to have Bear spray on you (what happened to simply wearing bells?).
So i decided last night that I should go buy some. Yes, a naive Aussie out buying Bear spray.
I admit, I thought that it would be a pretty simple task. Go to Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), buy the spray, come home. No, it’s a little bit more in depth than that.
Generally I like to wander a store and find things for myself, but after about 3 rounds of MEC, I was beginning to think that they had all sold out. Finally I found the bells and the Bear spray holsters. Yey… that means that Bear spray has to be around here somewhere, right? After searching the racks another 5 minutes I noticed a little sign saying “Looking for Bear spray? Please go to accessories counter”. Ok, so I’d have to ask after all.
When I asked the sales guy for small canister of Bear spray, he replied ‘I’ll need your membership card and some ID’.
WHAT THE… I was just buying Bear spray wasn’t I?
So ok, I hand over Fi’s MEC membership card and my Australian Drivers License. Fill out the information sheet and in return he explains to me how to release the safety latch, how the safety latch glows in the dark and which direction to point the can if I need to use it. He also reminds me that it should be easily accessible and not ‘tucked’ into my backpack and that it has a range of about 9 meters. 9 meters.. that is it!! if a bear comes that close I think I’ll be lucky to remember to pull the can out without pooping myself first!
He then proceeded to write the canister number on the information sheet and tells me ‘this canister is now registered in your name’.
Hmm. Ok. so in other words, if for some reason the can is misused (it’s similar to capsicum spray after all) I am liable.. OR did he mean.. if I’m attacked and killed by the bear, they will be able to use the canister number to identify me? Not feeling really comfortable about owning Bear spray anymore!!
Lets just say that I’m hoping that I don’t come within 9 meters of a bear and definitely don’t have to worry about having to remember how to use the the spray in an emergency.. but most of all I’m hoping that Mum doesn’t read this post until I am safe and sound in Calgary again!!!
Love it! I bought my daughter some (with less trouble at a hunting shop) when she was doing outdoor education training, but I still haven’t gotten around to getting my own.
By the way do you know how to tell the difference between black bear scat and grizzly bear scat? They say the grizzly poop has bear bells in it.
Enjoy your hiking!
Charis here’s hoping that I don’t have to find out how to use it.. or that I find excess ‘bell’s on my trails!!.. thanks for visiting and making me laugh.. They are beautiful creatures that I love to view and photograph…. from afar with an awesome zoom lens!!
This made me laugh. I’m with you, what happened to wearing bear bells? Or calling out, ‘Hey bear!’. I don’t think bear spray was available in 1996 when I hiked into the Tonquin Valley in Jasper National Park. We saw a grizzly bear at Surprise Point camping ground (near the Ramparts). Luckily, the sound of our voices was enough to send the bear off in a different direction. It was an exhilarating moment and I’m glad the bear didn’t get within nine metres. I’m also glad I didn’t have to think about using bear spray 🙂
Karen thanks for visiting and I’m so glad that I have made someone laugh. I’m actually heading down to Waterton this weekend, would love to do the Crypt Lake hike (as per your blog) however my travel buddy is slightly afraid of heights.. so that one’s out, I’m sure that we’ll find some others to occupy our time.. and hopefully without bears in close proximity! thanks again J
p.s… was in Jasper last weekend …. Simply STUNNING!!!
I saw some of your photos… made me insanely jealous! Haha!
I’m not sure when I’ll get back to the Canadian Rockies. I will be in Vancouver next year, but I’m going down to the US to do some hiking in the big national parks (Bryce, Zion, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, etc). So probably won’t have time to do the Rockies on that trip. Too many beautiful places in the world to explore 🙂