Bear country
From KayakWiki
Note on Bear Spray
Some types of bear spray are not strong enough to use effectively on bears. The full strength stuff is illegal in Canada and what is sold in that market is barely effective on dogs. Be advised. You can get the full strength spray in the US.
When travelling in bear country, you are the visitor and you have to be aware of bear behavior and take all precautions.
There are three types of bears that you have to watch for in most kayaking areas:
- Black bears
- Grizzly bears
- Polar bears.
Black bears are found in almost all of Canada and some parts of the US in North America. Grizzlies are found in the west and north of North America. Polar bears are only found in the Arctic and Hudsons Bay regions. All three types of bears exhibit different behavior and each has to be handled differently. There are several schools of thought on bear behavior and on how we should deal with them. However, since the most "liberal" views were espoused by someone who was later killed by grizzlies, it is recommended that you go with the advice from experts that have survived their studies on bear behavior.
One of the foremost experts is Stephen Herrero. His book, Bear Attacks, Their Causes And Avoidance is probably the best around. It is much easier to recommend that book than to attempt to cover the topic on this Wiki.
