Your statistics that you cited regarding more people get injured when using a firearm than when using bear spray does not answer the question which is more effective. People are more likely to use bear spray to get a curious bear to go away than shoot the bear, so therefor you have a lot of harmless encounters where bear spray is discharged and that skews the statistics in favor of bear spray. For violent attacks, firearms are more effective.
This is a common argument, but in truth both data pools (bear spray/firearms) are heavy on curious/nuisance bears. Applying that argument to one tool and not the other is dangerously misleading. Both bear spray and the right gun in the right hands are very effective at dealing with aggressive bears. As promised, I’ll discuss in greater detail in coming videos in this series. Stay tuned. For the mean time, I invite you to watch my video: guns vs bear spray the final word Best Bear Defense - Guns vs Bear Spray | The Final Word #wildspaces #guns #bears #grizzly #survival ruclips.net/video/SEcFHxYI_0o/видео.html
Being around and observing them In nature is the best teacher The problem is many people going into the woods simply don't understand bear behavior or how to recognize a predatory vs a defensive situation whem it comes to bears .you must first understamd posturing signs of agitation fear when dealing with them Mamy bears are shot wounded or killed every year when it was completely unnecessary or could have been avoided out of fear amd ignorance.
I agree with Cult of Arms. I live in Montana and I carry bear spray and a handgun. I have used bear spray twice on bears that were close but not threatening. I used the spray to condition them to stay away from humans and to get the bears to leave. However, these were not bears that would have attacked. Therefore, this skews the stats because some biased bear researchers would count this as "two incidents where bear spray prevented an attack/injury". If the bears were in fact aggressive or charging I would have used my handgun. There was a recent attack in Montana where a man shot and killed a charging grizzly.
@3_up_moon Yep. My folks hunted tigers in the early 1900s. We still have stories of it. They would shoot the tiger. The tiger flees, they pursue. Only for the tiger to use every bit of last strength and take 1 or 2 men down as well. These apex predators are amazing but damn scary at the same time.
a grizzly did that to me a few days ago as I watched it from my dump truck as it went into the woods 500 ft away and I got out of my truck and walked over to my brother who was standing near his jeep 200 ft the other direction and as we talked I turn around to see the bear right close behind us wtf.lucky he turned around and walked away.
Yuhp. Just imagine the seen. A grizzly running mock speed threw the woods bleeding snorting slobbering then it stops every thirty seconds to put its knose in the air to smell exactly where your at and the direction it needs to go so it can pounce on you 😳 its scary knowing a brute like that can be so intelligent. I know grizzly attacks only happen maybe 2% of the time on encounters but damn im still so happy i dont have grizzlies in my area. My kids can play outside in peace and a grizz never crosses my mind 🙏
Grizzly dont care what you got bear spray or bullets..........it doesnt matter it that bear wants to chew you up its gonna chew you up and then it will think about its injurys. If the bear really wants you your done.
What a phenomenal interview having the opportunity to hear that Todd's physical and mental toughness were literally the difference between life and death. Bigtime respect to Todd for having such discipline when death was pushing down his door. Ultimate respect and thanks to Todd for sharing such a personal experience. Thank you very much.
I’ve also been in Montana my entire life 59 years & run across my share of grizzlies! Black bear are not a threat as long as you know how to respond. Usually in Montana a black bear is already hauling ass in the opposite direction about as soon as you see them! There are more than a few dead people from grizzly attacks between Montana, Wyoming, Canada, and Alaska where the victims were found dead next to an empty can of bear spray. IF you’re smart you’ll NEVER go into grizzly country without a high powered handgun, preferably on a chest holster! Things probably would’ve turned out better for Todd if he hadn’t turned his back on her & trying to leave right after he seen her run off with her cubs. ANYTIME you see a sow grizzly & she bolts away with her cubs, STAY PUT because she’s coming back EVEY TIME! NEVER turn your back to her! She’s just taking her cubs to a safe spot but she’s coming back to make sure the threat of you is gone! He had a gun the entire time & if it would’ve been me, I would’ve gotten that gun out immediately & faced the bear when she came back & in that scenario she will ALWAYS come back after taking her cubs to the safe spot! If he would’ve faced her and fired a couple times with that gun in front of her or even in the air, there’s a high chance she would’ve bolted away and not attacked. The other thing he shouldn’t have done after getting attacked the first time, was immediately get up after she stopped the attack. She will always hang around after the initial attack and watch you for a while before she takes off, so it’s a lot smarter just to stay put for about 15-20 minutes before you get up to leave. Todd just got Lucky! That BS about people suffering more using guns over bear spray is totally bullshit & an outright lie! As far better to have a semi automatic like a 10 mm with hard case bullets because you need to be accurate, if you end up having to shoot the bear. Just firing the gun is often enough to deter an attack from a grizzly.
Finally, some sensible advice. I lived in Kodiak, Alaska for awhile and my brother, a hunter since childhood, lives in Montana. I'm so sick of all these sensational "attacked by a grizzly videos." It's like people rushing to the scene of a accident to see some blood and guts. There are a few simple rules to follow, along with some common sense. I like what author and guide, Brent Hudson, has to say on the topic. There's a good interview of him - non-sensational and matter of fact. People love a tall tale. Seems to feed the ego like telling a good "fish story." ruclips.net/video/sx0rDmbDk8A/видео.html
@@antoinebrown3951I’ve seen a black bear in East Missoula and I know people who’ve had their cans raided by grizzlies in between Bonner and East Missoula
I thought when you asked him if there was anything he would have done differently that day - I thought his answer would have been to just stay in bed that day LOL
The whole bear spray vs gun is a valid argument. I carry both just in case. My closest encounter was a bear running between me and my dog from 30 feet away and it was as freaked out as both of us. It was literally a blur. Thank goodness it was a black bear. My dog (had husky and half pit bull terrier) looked at me like WTF was that? No possibility of pulling out gun or spray. That bear belonged in the bear olympics for the fastest 100 yard dash. We were both within two feet of him when he ran between us and the fire pit. Fun times
Sounds like a crazy experience. After reading your comment, I think you’d enjoy my guns vs bear spray video. I agree with you. These are tools. Hope you’ll check out the full video: Best Bear Defense - Guns vs Bear Spray | The Final Word #wildspaces #guns #bears #grizzly #survival ruclips.net/video/SEcFHxYI_0o/видео.html
The biggest take away here...PRACTICE drawing, switching safety off! I like his wording of "its like muscle memory". From all the stories I've read about, people dont have their spray ready to use (in their backpack) and fumbling to use it.
I think a lot of people that get attacked by a wild animal, actually think they’re untouchable. In 2024 I wouldn’t go camping without at least two bear sprays and a pistol.
Scary. I'm in the woods a lot with Black Bear, they don't bother me, but Brown Bear, do scare the hell outta me. Great video, I shared it. Todd, sorry you had to go through that.
Thanks for watching and sharing! That is sooo helpful. Glad you found this valuable. Todd’s has a remarkable, and remarkably informative story to tell.
I'm completely comfortable alone in the woods, I'm very cautious with foods, scents, and my surroundings at all times. BUT, I will say spending time in grizzly country on foot is a whole different feeling, not so much scary as just having my senses ultra heightened at all times. I can't even imagine Todd's experience and I personally don't believe in bear spray only.
Thanks so much to you and Todd for this terrific, worthwhile, informative interview. I'll be sharing this far and wide, and looking forward to more great content. I can't tell you how many times people have told me they don't trust bear spray because they "don't want to end up like Todd Orr." Yet here he is, alive and well and still venturing into grizzly country.
Yeah, Todd’s experience is tough. There are many people who for whatever reason are antagonistic toward bear spray and to many of them, on a superficial level, Todd’s story seemingly confirms their argument. But in order for Todd’s story to say what they need it to say, they have to ignore the critical details and the vast library of successful bear spray deployments. Deterrents are tools. Todd used his effectively in combination with playing dead during the first attack, but had no time to respond during the second attack. It’s amazing story. So glad Todd has been so willing to work with me on this project.
I was stalked twice by black bears, almost twenty years apart exactly..And in between those two occasions I probably encountered 100 black bears that couldn't run away fast enough..Those 2 bears even looked alike, young males..One I shot at 10 feet, after he charged me and circled me, and charged me again, the other followed me to my truck..I also encountered a female black bear with 2 cubs at 40 yards while grouse hunting with my buddy..She charged us, closed half the distance, turned and was walking very fast towards her cubs, when my buddy started yelling, which made her turn and charge again, but much more serious, by that time I shot the bear banger that scared her off, so yelling might not always be good, in some circumstances.The speed of a bear is mind boggling, and I'm not just talking about running, the bear I shot circled me so fast while standing on it's hind feet, it didn't seem possible, like a movie in fast forward, it still boggles my mind..Bears are unpredictable, firearms are superior to bear spray obviously..
@@TheWatcherxx99 ? think again people keep breaking into bear territory, *FULLY AWARE* of how protective they are of their cubs, just to have a good time and you honestly think it's okay to kill off bears for acting the way *WE KNOW* they would? if you have to defend yourself while doing something you *had* to do, sure, but being fine with killing off bears just because you wanted to go hiking or something? i'm honestly glad for everyone doing that who does get taken out by a bear, not gonna lie. killing off animals just for a one-time trip is absolutely disgusting. and that's coming from someone who despises the crazy bs spread by animal rights activists, vegans etc. if you want to go hiking, take areas that are less dangerous or live with the consequences, that's how it should be. or do you think the opposite would be fine, with bears breaking into people's home looking for food and killing them off just to 'safely pick up these leftover pizza slices'?
@@philipphoffmann8929No one with any morals is "killing off" bears. Humans and bears share space. Hiking, scouting, hunting, foraging are human activities that occur in a shared environment with bears. We are not separate from nature.
They some bears are attracted to bear spray. They have observed bears coming to the area where someone deployed bear spray and they sniff the area and start rolling in it.
It’s true. Expelled spray does attract bears. So you don’t want to hang around an area that has expelled spray. But in the moment, a solid spray is very effective at discouraging aggression.
Expelled bear spray stays volatile and atomized for a few hours. Ask anyone who has accidentally discharged it in a car. It is true that once the residue has stabilized and isn't wafting into the air, it's an attractant to bears. But in that window of a few hours, it's still too nasty to be around and can cause respiratory distress.
24:00 Really, REALLY, bad source research here. We've dealt with Smith for years up here. For two decades Smith has been an anti-gun advocate and has churned out cookie cutter pro-spray/anti-gun "research artciles". He is absolutely NOT an expert on the subject, but an extremely biased source.
I have spoken at length with Smith about the efficacy of guns and their place as back country deterrents and you are entirely misrepresenting both his motivations and his research. He is not “anti-gun” nor is his research. I can only conclude you have not read what you are criticizing.
The concept of drawing bear spray and a gun, you may as well just draw the spray. Your grip on that gun will make it pretty much ineffective. Just coming from a guy that knows a little about drawing and the muscle memory involved there and how grip and adrenaline affect your shot
Safety in numbers!! & I love how well balanced this series is! You do a really amazing job at letting people share their stories and have a voice and then coming in after to explain the lessons that should be learned. It reminds me of being in class but much more engaging haha. I also love that I feel like I can show your "guns vs bear spray" video to super pro gun people (not that I'm anti gun, I'm pretty neutral) because you yourself are experienced with guns, you just use facts to show that bear spray is the better choice the vast majority of the time (I know I personally would rather potentially suffer chemical burns from a hiking partner spraying me with bear spray if I was being attacked than a stray gunshot)
Thanks! It’s a topic that I care deeply about, and one that is generally very poorly handled. I believe in tools and their proper and effective use. Bear spray is extremely effective, non lethal to humans and bears alike and much easier master. I wouldn’t say it’s “better”, but it is the tool every adult should carry and know how to use. If people take firearms, they should ensure they are extremely responsible and proficient so that they are an asset rather than a liability. It’s a nuanced conversation to be sure. Thanks for being part of it!
That's one tough, courageous man. Sometimes bear spray is just a seasoning for humans as far as some bears are concerned, be sure to take adequate protection with you when in bear country.
there is just something about bears that both scares us and yet fascinates us i mean just look at how much coverage there was about timothy treadwells tragic story
They are cute too though is the weird thing. You ever see them bite their paws and huff? Shit :-) wil fuzzie bois. just don't brutally maul my intestines out ya know
Treadwell was harassing wildlife. It's abuse. We really need laws against harassing wildlife because now the deranged "screen economy" perverse incentives has made a flood of Treadwells influencers harassing wildlife for clicks $$$ that is more and more stressing the wildlife and putting people who enjoy nature responsibly in higher risk.
As British 🇬🇧 I find this fascinating! Terrifying and majestic animals - apex god of the woods for sure . I’m at a loss as to why anyone would go deep into such a place ON THEIR OWN 😯!!! Also - had a gun but not as available and practised either as the spray ?!! I find his calmness inspiring must say. Cool guy 👍
I can tell you why. We are born and raised in the mountains, and rain forests of British Columbia, Canada. It is in our DNA to be out in the wild. At least that's what I think although nor sure what chromosome it would be in our genome. We were wild children not city kids but farm & forest children. We forage for mushrooms, onion, ginger, sting nettle to eat and wildflowers. My brother hunts elk to eat. My son-in-law worked in forestry; my daughter hikes the alpine where the group she belongs to has safe cabins for the night. We camp. I hike every day in the woods, It keeps the S.A.D away. We have generational experiences and stories with bears, I now live on a small lake, in the rain-forest of Vancouver Island where black bear estimates range from 7,000 to 12,000 individuals, the largest black bear population in the world. But no grizzlies. I would not survive the city, "Wild Should Remain Wild" is my slogan.
As for the dogmatic "Guns are better" positions, well, I have seen many police viceos, body cams, which show police pulling their guns and the camera almost always shows police hands shaking almost violently. When adrenalin is flushing through a person, even a professional with a gun, one never knows how things will go and if a bullet will hit it's mark with a death blow. A bear is not a target at a shooting range and a shooting range target does not cause a flash of adrenaline.
I live close to the Rocky Mountains in Canada, and am terrified to ever meet a bear. We have had the occasional grizzly bear and cubs visiting our area. I've seen videos of people who were hiking a short drive away from our place that have been attacked and some killed. I love seeing them from my truck, but I try to be prepared even on a short walk to the many falls in the area.
We live in Wasilla Alaska. We are maybe 100 yards from the little Su river. Bear spray is always near. By near I mean in my hands or on my hip. Yes I carry a pistol but honestly I think the bear spray is a much better tool. Muscle memory is so true and I’m now going to work on that more in practice. We also play a lot of disc golf and paddle board. Often there’s no one around for miles and miles and probably more bear than people anyway. Love this education
Is your house bear proof? It’s amazing how well bears can open doors. Especially those bears used to living around people in populated areas. A lot of wildlife is becoming less wild and more domesticated. Especially the deer.
I was charged three times by brown bear here in Slovakia, two times a used my bike to scare a bear and one time bear changed his decision and scared away. I think after this video that bear spray may be the best protection.
I know this might be a stupid question...Is there any clothing, e.g., vest, pants, boots, etc., that is tough enough to consider as "bear proof"? Something to help protect the delicate flesh we have for a short quick attach. Maybe a vest/pants with chemicals that get dispersed during the attach after the packaging is ripped open. Just a thought. I know the first defense is to respect the area and know that they are out there.
Glad you enjoyed it! I’ve been watching people use Todd’s experience to argue dangerous falsehoods for close to eight years now. Hoping this video can set the record straight. I invite to to help in that effort by sharing this video.
Simply the BEST! I appreciated it's your video's and not random flashes of strange faces with weird music. I subscribed. I live in bear country so I like to watch different scenarios of what to do in a bear attack. I carry bear spray in my hand with safety off. I will check out your ABC's video. Glad you survived Todd!
Keep up the good work! It's so true that in a crisis moment, you don't have time to stop and think. Being as prepared as possible is the only way. Your videos are a must for anyone planning to go into bear country.
Very informative, thanks for having this conversation! I met a tourist near Banff who asked to hike with me. The last thing I want to do is hike with a tourist for some many reasons, it’s a liability to me lol As an excuse I told him that the hikes I do require bear spray (my gut feeling was that he didn’t carry any). He said he didn’t need bear spray and proceeded to show me a video he took of a grizzly and two cubs he saw on a hike, probably less than 100 feet away 😳 I think maybe he thought he was like an animal whisperer or something, like “one with nature”. I thought I was going to see him in the news of a tourist dying from a bear attack. So wild, I wish there was more education for tourists out there!
UNREAL! Great interview! I'm in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We have black bear, and I've only seen them from a car. Good enough for me!! And the good Lord got other plans for Todd....he needs him here!!
I grew up in the UP! Never heard of a black bear attack. Did have a pack of wolves go through the trails in munising , eating peoples pets and scaring them off the trails. But everyone was ok. I miss the UP!
@@CaseyPeterson-cu5rm Hi Casey...where are you at now?? I left the UP decades ago, and after ALMOST a year...I booked it right back...I can't imagine being anywhere else.
@@LadyYoop I’m in a suburb of Detroit. We travel to the UP every year for vacation though! Love it up there. My business here makes it hard to leave the city. Maybe when we retire I’ll move back.
@@CaseyPeterson-cu5rm I'm in Houghton now..I lived in the woods in Baraga and got to feed all the wild critters and birds, and oh how I miss that....come on HOME when you can!
Thank you Mike for a very informative video! What about carrying bells as you walk? Does noise help reduce the chance of an encounter? Great story from Todd and thank God he is well.
Thanks! I generally advise against bear bells. There’s no compelling evidence that they work without conditioning bears. They create terrible noise pollution in the wilderness and they often lead to lower situational awareness. It’s best to keep your eyes and ears up, travel in groups, and call out or clap when a surprise encounter is possible. For more, make sure to watch my How to Survive: Bear Attack ABCs video. ruclips.net/video/5rqa4KhjpSE/видео.htmlsi=STx4hY-dhRFdPSlJ
First of all I’d never go into a forest by myself. Two other well armed men with me or I just don’t go. Second. I’d never camp out in woods common to bears with a woman. Women bleed and bears smell blood at great distance if the wind is in the right direction. The two questions I have is what kind of immediate knock down power does bear spray have? If that bear has the speed and momentum to reach you it can kill you in seconds or hurt so badly you can survive long enough to reach help. Second, how well will bear spray work if it’s a windy day? Wind won’t blow away a bullet.
@@misfitm1457 my answer to that is two things. If you cut yourself, get out of there and stay out until healed. Two, I don’t have time to follow a female’s calendar and i sure as hell don’t want to have that to worry about.
There are many things giving people a false sense of security. Bear spray is an excellent tool for backcountry defense, but it is not a guarantee. Watch the full video and you’ll see why people have been learning all the wrong lessons from Todd’s experience.
That's right Travis. I can think off memory without grabbing my brown bear book of 6 people killed after unloading a full can. Your smartest move is to train visiting a gun range a dozen times before entering brown bear country. Because brown bears when adrenalized cover 30 ft per second in a full on attack. So being trained and confident gives a person a better chance of survival due to panic that has happened to every bear attack survivor. These grizzlies take the lives of dogs and hikers. I've been studying actual situations because I own bear biologist books. Tom Smith and Steven Herrera are people you need to research before ever considering going into north America territory. The full truth on #s of people not coming home from hunting/camping/hiking isn't 100% because it can hurt park revenue. 2020 was an unusual year in north America 8-10 people+ mauled in Alaska. If your going to vacation in bear country best advice I can give is never under any circumstances hunt or hike solo. 90% of those injured or worse were solo hiking/fishing etc. Good luck people.🙏👍 🐻👈
One of the biggest things people need to keep in mind is where you're at if you encounter a bear, for instance if you're just out in the country on public lands then yeah you could probably use a gun to eliminate the bear and the threat, however if you're in a national park like Yellowstone or Glacier National Park, it is a different story because you cannot use a gun on a bear, so really you're only defense is going to be the bear spray, I mean it may not be a cure-all thing, but something is better than nothing! There are plenty enough stories out there where bear spray has kept someone from being attacked, so the saying bear spray doesn't work, I believe his nonsense because you're setting people up to be hurt because you telling them bear spray doesn't work then they're not going to carry any!
Most bear attacks are because people surprised the bear! I make a lot of noise, I especially whistle because bear don't like whistles or bells! Most bears are booking it the other way when they come accross humans
Another great video with helpful tips for safety for humans and bears, two thoughts I had while watching was if handguns was used instead of bear spray how the first encounter would have changed with a potentially wounded bear. The second thought is I would luv to see how best to deploy bear spray when using trekking poles, I have tried a few different ways but is not slick at all.
Great video. What about making constant noise during a hike like talking singing or some sort of noise maker? Is there any data on that? Thanks in advance.
Almost certainly. Mother grizzlies are very protective, but they’re not stupid. Numbers matter in the backcountry. Groups of three or more are almost never attacked IF they stand their ground and know how and when to us their deterrents. Grizzlies will still charge groups, but a group of people who know what they are doing are almost impervious to a daytime bear attack.
This was very, very helpful as I have felt really vulnerable when going into bear country so I mostly avoid it. Practicing preparation seems to be a key factor. It was really helpful to hear from the survivor of a bear attack being prepared with both hairspray and a pistol at the same time. I would not have thought of that!
I will be watching this with my son and his girlfriend as they love to camp, and he thinks a firearm is important as a defence against bears. He’s so young (20) I feel it’s my duty to watch this video with them along with the other video you’ve done on guns versus bear spray. I’ll also be purchasing them each their own bear spray if they don’t already have one. Thank you so much for the education and information! 🙏🏻🇨🇦
Glad to help. I also suggest watching my Bear attack ABCs video (link below) which rather than responding to internet misinformation lays out the sequence of avoidance, deterrents, and how to respond if attacked. I consider it my most important Bear safety video. How to survive | Bear Attack ABCs #wildspaces #bears #guns #grizzlies #polarbear #attack ruclips.net/video/5rqa4KhjpSE/видео.html
My family is going hiking this summer in bear country, and I’ve made sure they’ll have a capable gun. I would never trust my family’s safety to bear spray, which has failed.
it might not work in some cases, so they do need both imo. a dog also helps smell bear and alert the humans. but must be on a leash ! or they can lead a bear back to t heir master. And go in groups !
If I survived a grizzly attack, and returned to grizzly country, a year later, some might say that my chances of being attacked again are slim: But, I think that they would be wrong. I would know that I had been attacked before, but the grizzly doesn't know that! As far as the bear is concerned, I FRESH meat.
Hey Mike, could you ever make a video on auditory deterrents like Tru Flare bear bangers, Air horns, Whistles, etc… Covering their effectiveness, the potential hazards, and how and when to use them.
Thanks for the request! I will say that a video on deterrent alternatives is in the works, but not first in line. It may take a little while to get around to, but it is coming. Stay tuned. More to come.
The sad part about him, and I'm going to pray about it. You been attacked twice and said you're lucky!! I pray you start knowing that God protected you. If you say it later, that's great, but I can't listen to stories like this, and it's luck. No!! My prayers you start knowing God is why you're still here.🙏🏾🙏🏾
When he 1st noted that the bear had seen him from a distance, would it have been wise for him to play dead at that moment before she even got up to him?
Great interview!!! I love bears 🐻. They are beautiful but frightful creatures. I live down South and just realized that we have black bears and I had no idea. I think you are supposed to play unalive with grizzly bears and fight back with black bears. I’m not sure but I’m definitely researching now. I’ve been in the woods several times and never even thought about bears. Thank you for educating us. I’ve subscribed and liked this video so that I can get your channel recommended to me.
Welcome to the community! Especially appreciate the sub! If you’re looking for information on how to respond to a black bears, grizzlies and polar bears, I’ve included all that in my bear attack ABCs video. How to survive | Bear Attack ABCs #wildspaces #bears #guns #grizzlies #polarbear #attack ruclips.net/video/5rqa4KhjpSE/видео.html
Man. You gotta be careful out there. Of course me and my brother on holiday from the UK when out in bear country one of the first things we bought was bearspray and lo and behold saw a bear really close the next day in Glacier national Park. Not aggressive but glad we had it lol your footage is incredible mate. The Black Grizzlies are beautiful proves how important it is to know your bears.
I'm glad Todd is doing well. You should talk about Timothy Treadwell and the hundreds of mistakes he did in bear country. This man even swam with a bear. He only survived ten years on pure luck. It's morbidly fascinating
Very informative, thanks to both. I noted his comment that he wished he had not been in too much of a hurry to stop when he entered the clearing. That's what animals do. Deer, bear, cougar and I'm sure hunter-gatherer humans have always done the same thing. It's a habit I've gotten into.
Grizzly Bears are terrifying for me. Once, I was in grizzly bear country, and I totally forgot they existed. Their range has shrunk since the 1880s. Once plentiful from Alaska to Mexico. They just recently found a grizzly bear on a mexican mountain. In mexico, they have huge, expansive rolling hills and mountains. You can definitely see they used to live there. They need space. Where they are plentiful now in the USA, there is no hunting pressure, so they have zero fear of humans. The population is booming.
If you ever do a q&a type video, maybe you can cover this question that I can't seem to easily find an answer to online: how does the pain of tear gas compare to bear spray?
I was riding my bike in the mountains going from banff to canmore. I just got to the top of a long climb and was gliding down , looking to my right at the scenery. I decided to glance forward to make sure the path was good. I looked back right, and it dawned on me that i just saw a grizzly bear eating something on the pathway in front of me, facing away from me. I slammed on my brakes and staeted wondering what i should do as i was not stopping in time. Then my tires started to squeal on the rock path and the bear took off into the woods. He started pounding on the ground, so i turned around and waited a bit. I forgot my bear spray and ax in the car .
So I’m gathering he’s looking to be attacked a THIRD TIME By standing there, making videos of his injuries, obviously, his priority does not lie with tending to his injuries. He’s MORE concerned about making a viral video instead !!it’s so sick. What social media does to people?!!
As a women I went hunting in the past. No grizzlies here in VA. Could it be possible the cans be changed were they are attached to the shoulder. The nozzles would be changed, so if a person is attacked or on the ground already. The nozzle is facing their face so they back off.
I'm Spanish, my son spent a year living in Montana and he used to go hiking and running in the mountains. I think I didn't sleep well until he came back home!😵💫
You wont catch me within 200 miles of bear territory on foot. No doing it even if i had 3 armed guards. Waiting for elk to come around somewhere not in grizz territory. If i even seen one for real i would never go to sleep again.
Did Todd even have a pistol as an option in this attack? I mean after the first attack or perhaps in an alternate scenario combination spray and pistol (if it worked out that way). Option, options, options. They may not always 100% present themselves that way but without the option, you absolutely have 100% , no ability to try.
You are thinking with your nose. A bears sense of smell is 2100x greater than a humans sense of smell. Getting sprayed with bear spray would be really bad. Multiply that by 2100.
@elchaposexcitingadventures1674 The weather and the wind also have to be in your favor. As I said before, I would not trust relying on some damn spray!
A study published on Ammoland reviews 123 cases in which handguns were used against determined bear attacks, not just curious or nuisance bears as is typically the case with bear spray, and concludes handguns are 98% effective at stopping aggressive behavior from bears. Interestingly, caliber seems to matter little. While cartridges like .44 Magnum are more popular and absolutely effective, one case from Russia involved a 9x18 and several cases involved a .38 Special. All were effective. Pepper spray has a max effective range under ideal conditions of 30 feet. A grizzly charges at 35 to 40 mph. That is just under 60 fps. If you do the math, that means you can't begin affecting a bear's behavior with spray until it is half a second from you. Good luck with that. We must distinguish between real attacks and everything else. Nuisance behavior like sniffing around your campsite, standing, stomping, popping jaws, raking the ground, or bluff charges are not predatory behavior. That is the bear telling you he is annoyed by your presence and offering you and out to avoid violence. These are the only cases spray is likely to be successful, and if you're smart, you won't pick a fight. Take advantage of that opportunity and leave. In a real attack, there will be no warning. Bears are ambush predators, so if the bear detects you before you detect the bear, or rather when, as a bloodhound's nose is 300 times better than yours and that grizzly's nose is 7 times better than a bloodhound's, it is going to approach from your flank. You're going to hear limbs crashing, look up, and see 800 pounds of apex predator coming at you from 50 yards, and realize you have 3 seconds to draw whatever you have and make it count. Choose wisely.
Well said/written. For me personally it comes down to the more surest way to survive and that comes with a Firearm, on top of proper training and awareness probably above all. But I have seen far too many videos of Grizzlies playing in Bear spray like a cat does Catnip. I just won’t risk it, especially when my family is with me. Now I don’t want to ever have to KiLL anything that is just doing what it does naturally especially a Mama Bear protecting her cubs so I think being aware of your surroundings and knowing that you are in Bear country after all is the first line of defense. I think people become far too complacent and sometimes forget that they are in the WILD amongst WILD animals and it is THEIR home NOT ours. You are Never 100% safe anywhere.
You are repeating a popular, self-debunking falsehood. A charging bear is already “pissed”. Ergo, the bear spray is not responsible for disrupting the bear’s emotions. Bear spray is an extremely effective tool. It could have been more effective in Todd’s case, but it did its job.
The bear likely knows, but I’d wager it also knows that if you’re willing to persist in the ruse it’s because you recognize it’s superiority and therefore you are not a threat. So long as most bears don’t have a familiarity with human meat and don’t take a liking to it playing dead is just another way to communicate the same thing as the spray does “I don’t want any trouble with you, please leave me alone “
@@JennfamousartBlogspot But, I think that, sometimes, bears, especially grizzlies, kill because they're a bit nuts. Psychotic. I read of a grizzly that attacked a young mother who was out for a walk in a wooded area. And, after the mother was dead, the grizzly killed the mother's infant child. What threat was this infant to the grizzly?
I was charged by a Grizzly in the Bitteroot and thank God it had to cross a fast rushing stream that was caused by an avalanche across the normally flat wider stream. When the bear hit that stream it took it down stream and caused a distraction. I immediately dropped my backpack because of the conditioning practice of yell and wave your arms and then hit your quick release on your backback and drop it to distract the bear and then climb a tree. Because the bear was distracted this worked. If it was not distracted it would have caught one of us and grizzly dont lope along like in the movies, they look like a dog chasing a car! If you can get up a tree as soon as you see a bear you can then keep the bear from climbing and attacking with bear spray and a pistol. The key to that is immediately get up a tree and let the bear pass and it gets your scent up in the air. We had bear spray but not a pistol. Definitely carried a weapon after that charge everytime.
Very helpful information! I seldom camp or hike in places where a bear encounter is at all likely, but before my next trip I'm going to buy a holster and practice with my bear spray...just in case.
I had to unsubscribe from a channel I used to watch on RUclips because they were pressing hard on carrying a gun instead of spray ( the channel is, Gonagain , video titled "Bear Spray Against Grizzlies?" ). The internet sure is fun to sift through all the misinformation and it can get you in a pickle of a situation to be sure. Thanks for your informative videos and for including all the data and research to back up your claims. It has made me be very much more mindfull of how I approach hiking and prepping before enjoying the outdoors.
Yeah, Ive watched that video. He is sharing a popular, but dangerously problematic viewpoint. The internet has turned most commenters/influencers into mother goose. They weave largely fictional narratives of their choosing, sprinkling a few valid points along the way, but ultimately deceive themselves and others. Gonagain’s argument is a popular one, rewarded by the internet. But speaking for myself the quality of information must be more important than popularity. I believe that when people have the best information, they can also make the best decisions. Thanks to being part of that community! I hope you’ll consider sharing this video. People have been force-fed many dangerous fallacies following Todd’s experience, among others including the Banff attack. I’m hoping, together, we can set the record straight.
@@johnb1567 Yeah, I had a dream about bear spray not working, woke up in the morning and thought, “Gosh, you know, bear spray probably doesn’t work. I should tell everyone it fails based on my dream and feelings, because that would be responsible and honest!” 🤔 My saying that bear spray fails isn’t based on actually knowing it fails-I just felt like saying it. Like that couple in Canada who got killed because their bear spray failed-I mean, who believes that? So yeah, I’m saying bear spray fails because I _feel_ it probably would-not because of any actual accounts I’ve heard or read about. Kidding! 🤪
@@johnb1567 Yeah, I had a dream about it not working, woke up in the morning and thought, “Gosh, you know, bear spray probably doesn’t work. I should tell everyone it fails based on my dream and feelings, because that would be responsible and honest!” 🤔 My saying it fails isn’t based on actually knowing it fails-I just felt like saying it. Like that couple in Canada who got killed because theirs failed-I mean, who believes that? So yeah, I’m saying it fails because I _feel_ it probably would-not because of any actual accounts I’ve heard or read about. Kidding! 🤪
Of course, if she is defending her cubs. Bear spray is not disabling; it is just unpleasant. She can easily overcome more than that to protect her cubs.
What about loud blow horns and more cans of spray than relying on one little can. Todd is one strong man to have lived to tell about TWO horrific attacks by that beast. Wow
Your statistics that you cited regarding more people get injured when using a firearm than when using bear spray does not answer the question which is more effective. People are more likely to use bear spray to get a curious bear to go away than shoot the bear, so therefor you have a lot of harmless encounters where bear spray is discharged and that skews the statistics in favor of bear spray. For violent attacks, firearms are more effective.
This is a common argument, but in truth both data pools (bear spray/firearms) are heavy on curious/nuisance bears.
Applying that argument to one tool and not the other is dangerously misleading.
Both bear spray and the right gun in the right hands are very effective at dealing with aggressive bears.
As promised, I’ll discuss in greater detail in coming videos in this series. Stay tuned.
For the mean time, I invite you to watch my video: guns vs bear spray the final word
Best Bear Defense - Guns vs Bear Spray | The Final Word #wildspaces #guns #bears #grizzly #survival
ruclips.net/video/SEcFHxYI_0o/видео.html
Being around and observing them
In nature is the best teacher The problem is many people going into the woods simply don't understand bear behavior or how to recognize a predatory vs a defensive situation whem it comes to bears .you must first understamd
posturing signs of agitation fear when dealing with them
Mamy bears are shot wounded or killed every year when it was completely unnecessary or could have been avoided out of fear amd ignorance.
@@jamiehurtt3530 And life goes on.
@@robertfrapples2472
Or it doesn't
I agree with Cult of Arms. I live in Montana and I carry bear spray and a handgun. I have used bear spray twice on bears that were close but not threatening. I used the spray to condition them to stay away from humans and to get the bears to leave. However, these were not bears that would have attacked. Therefore, this skews the stats because some biased bear researchers would count this as "two incidents where bear spray prevented an attack/injury". If the bears were in fact aggressive or charging I would have used my handgun. There was a recent attack in Montana where a man shot and killed a charging grizzly.
I appreciate hearing from an actual survivor
I have always heard that the grizzly is the one animal that will make a large circle around you to hunt you down if you wound them.
Tigers will hunt you if you wound them
@3_up_moon
Yep. My folks hunted tigers in the early 1900s. We still have stories of it.
They would shoot the tiger. The tiger flees, they pursue. Only for the tiger to use every bit of last strength and take 1 or 2 men down as well. These apex predators are amazing but damn scary at the same time.
a grizzly did that to me a few days ago as I watched it from my dump truck as it went into the woods 500 ft away and I got out of my truck and walked over to my brother who was standing near his jeep 200 ft the other direction and as we talked I turn around to see the bear right close behind us wtf.lucky he turned around and walked away.
@@ski6712No cubs in play. You lucked out.
Yuhp. Just imagine the seen. A grizzly running mock speed threw the woods bleeding snorting slobbering then it stops every thirty seconds to put its knose in the air to smell exactly where your at and the direction it needs to go so it can pounce on you 😳 its scary knowing a brute like that can be so intelligent.
I know grizzly attacks only happen maybe 2% of the time on encounters but damn im still so happy i dont have grizzlies in my area. My kids can play outside in peace and a grizz never crosses my mind 🙏
I can understand the first attack, but Damn! the second attack you were supposed to have your 45 in hand.. smh
Grizzly dont care what you got bear spray or bullets..........it doesnt matter it that bear wants to chew you up its gonna chew you up and then it will think about its injurys. If the bear really wants you your done.
100 x 100%
@@heavensfugitive6447 Not true.
What a phenomenal interview having the opportunity to hear that Todd's physical and mental toughness were literally the difference between life and death. Bigtime respect to Todd for having such discipline when death was pushing down his door. Ultimate respect and thanks to Todd for sharing such a personal experience.
Thank you very much.
I’ve also been in Montana my entire life 59 years & run across my share of grizzlies! Black bear are not a threat as long as you know how to respond. Usually in Montana a black bear is already hauling ass in the opposite direction about as soon as you see them! There are more than a few dead people from grizzly attacks between Montana, Wyoming, Canada, and Alaska where the victims were found dead next to an empty can of bear spray. IF you’re smart you’ll NEVER go into grizzly country without a high powered handgun, preferably on a chest holster! Things probably would’ve turned out better for Todd if he hadn’t turned his back on her & trying to leave right after he seen her run off with her cubs. ANYTIME you see a sow grizzly & she bolts away with her cubs, STAY PUT because she’s coming back EVEY TIME! NEVER turn your back to her! She’s just taking her cubs to a safe spot but she’s coming back to make sure the threat of you is gone! He had a gun the entire time & if it would’ve been me, I would’ve gotten that gun out immediately & faced the bear when she came back & in that scenario she will ALWAYS come back after taking her cubs to the safe spot! If he would’ve faced her and fired a couple times with that gun in front of her or even in the air, there’s a high chance she would’ve bolted away and not attacked. The other thing he shouldn’t have done after getting attacked the first time, was immediately get up after she stopped the attack. She will always hang around after the initial attack and watch you for a while before she takes off, so it’s a lot smarter just to stay put for about 15-20 minutes before you get up to leave. Todd just got Lucky! That BS about people suffering more using guns over bear spray is totally bullshit & an outright lie! As far better to have a semi automatic like a 10 mm with hard case bullets because you need to be accurate, if you end up having to shoot the bear. Just firing the gun is often enough to deter an attack from a grizzly.
Finally, some sensible advice. I lived in Kodiak, Alaska for awhile and my brother, a hunter since childhood, lives in Montana. I'm so sick of all these sensational "attacked by a grizzly videos." It's like people rushing to the scene of a accident to see some blood and guts. There are a few simple rules to follow, along with some common sense. I like what author and guide, Brent Hudson, has to say on the topic. There's a good interview of him - non-sensational and matter of fact. People love a tall tale. Seems to feed the ego like telling a good "fish story." ruclips.net/video/sx0rDmbDk8A/видео.html
I live in Missoula so do bears come into town? Just on trails hiking areas
That sounds terrifying! I can't imagine living in an area where bears are common! It's mad
@@antoinebrown3951I’ve seen a black bear in East Missoula and I know people who’ve had their cans raided by grizzlies in between Bonner and East Missoula
A gun is no guarantee, people get a false sense of security, be aware and make a lot of noise
I thought when you asked him if there was anything he would have done differently that day - I thought his answer would have been to just stay in bed that day LOL
The whole bear spray vs gun is a valid argument. I carry both just in case. My closest encounter was a bear running between me and my dog from 30 feet away and it was as freaked out as both of us. It was literally a blur. Thank goodness it was a black bear. My dog (had husky and half pit bull terrier) looked at me like WTF was that? No possibility of pulling out gun or spray. That bear belonged in the bear olympics for the fastest 100 yard dash. We were both within two feet of him when he ran between us and the fire pit. Fun times
Sounds like a crazy experience.
After reading your comment, I think you’d enjoy my guns vs bear spray video.
I agree with you. These are tools. Hope you’ll check out the full video: Best Bear Defense - Guns vs Bear Spray | The Final Word #wildspaces #guns #bears #grizzly #survival
ruclips.net/video/SEcFHxYI_0o/видео.html
Dogs are the number one reason Bears attack in bear country leave your dog at home and bear country
The biggest take away here...PRACTICE drawing, switching safety off! I like his wording of "its like muscle memory". From all the stories I've read about, people dont have their spray ready to use (in their backpack) and fumbling to use it.
I think a lot of people that get attacked by a wild animal, actually think they’re untouchable. In 2024 I wouldn’t go camping without at least two bear sprays and a pistol.
Scary. I'm in the woods a lot with Black Bear, they don't bother me, but Brown Bear, do scare the hell outta me. Great video, I shared it. Todd, sorry you had to go through that.
Thanks for watching and sharing! That is sooo helpful. Glad you found this valuable. Todd’s has a remarkable, and remarkably informative story to tell.
Black bears kill more people than grizzlies. Yes, there ARE more black bears around, but still…..don’t get too confident !
Is a brown bear the same as a grizzly bear?
Yes @@laikanbarth
It seems like on average a black bear seems more passive around people. Bear spray for them but the big guys like grizzlies, forget it.
I'm completely comfortable alone in the woods, I'm very cautious with foods, scents, and my surroundings at all times. BUT, I will say spending time in grizzly country on foot is a whole different feeling, not so much scary as just having my senses ultra heightened at all times. I can't even imagine Todd's experience and I personally don't believe in bear spray only.
Very educational video. Thanks Todd for sharing your stories.
Thanks so much to you and Todd for this terrific, worthwhile, informative interview. I'll be sharing this far and wide, and looking forward to more great content.
I can't tell you how many times people have told me they don't trust bear spray because they "don't want to end up like Todd Orr." Yet here he is, alive and well and still venturing into grizzly country.
Yeah, Todd’s experience is tough. There are many people who for whatever reason are antagonistic toward bear spray and to many of them, on a superficial level, Todd’s story seemingly confirms their argument.
But in order for Todd’s story to say what they need it to say, they have to ignore the critical details and the vast library of successful bear spray deployments.
Deterrents are tools. Todd used his effectively in combination with playing dead during the first attack, but had no time to respond during the second attack.
It’s amazing story. So glad Todd has been so willing to work with me on this project.
Great interview and presentation! I'm looking forward to your follow-up videos!
Much appreciated!
Todd thank god you are here still. How frightening!
Never bring bear spray to a bear fight. Lol
This made me crack up lmaoooo
I was stalked twice by black bears, almost twenty years apart exactly..And in between those two occasions I probably encountered 100 black bears that couldn't run away fast enough..Those 2 bears even looked alike, young males..One I shot at 10 feet, after he charged me and circled me, and charged me again, the other followed me to my truck..I also encountered a female black bear with 2 cubs at 40 yards while grouse hunting with my buddy..She charged us, closed half the distance, turned and was walking very fast towards her cubs, when my buddy started yelling, which made her turn and charge again, but much more serious, by that time I shot the bear banger that scared her off, so yelling might not always be good, in some circumstances.The speed of a bear is mind boggling, and I'm not just talking about running, the bear I shot circled me so fast while standing on it's hind feet, it didn't seem possible, like a movie in fast forward, it still boggles my mind..Bears are unpredictable, firearms are superior to bear spray obviously..
And so you shot a human being?! For protecting themselves from a bear???!! Disgusting
@@Wisdom-Nuggets-Tid-Bitswisdom in name only
@@TheWatcherxx99 ?
think again
people keep breaking into bear territory, *FULLY AWARE* of how protective they are of their cubs, just to have a good time and you honestly think it's okay to kill off bears for acting the way *WE KNOW* they would?
if you have to defend yourself while doing something you *had* to do, sure, but being fine with killing off bears just because you wanted to go hiking or something?
i'm honestly glad for everyone doing that who does get taken out by a bear, not gonna lie. killing off animals just for a one-time trip is absolutely disgusting. and that's coming from someone who despises the crazy bs spread by animal rights activists, vegans etc.
if you want to go hiking, take areas that are less dangerous or live with the consequences, that's how it should be. or do you think the opposite would be fine, with bears breaking into people's home looking for food and killing them off just to 'safely pick up these leftover pizza slices'?
@@philipphoffmann8929No one with any morals is "killing off" bears. Humans and bears share space. Hiking, scouting, hunting, foraging are human activities that occur in a shared environment with bears. We are not separate from nature.
@@philipphoffmann8929you sound so goofy lol
I have a question, would a compressed air horn make a loud enough noise to scare off a bear?
Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't - just like bear spray.
They some bears are attracted to bear spray. They have observed bears coming to the area where someone deployed bear spray and they sniff the area and start rolling in it.
It’s true. Expelled spray does attract bears. So you don’t want to hang around an area that has expelled spray. But in the moment, a solid spray is very effective at discouraging aggression.
Expelled bear spray stays volatile and atomized for a few hours. Ask anyone who has accidentally discharged it in a car. It is true that once the residue has stabilized and isn't wafting into the air, it's an attractant to bears. But in that window of a few hours, it's still too nasty to be around and can cause respiratory distress.
@@steveprimm7943correct, and the smell attracts bears. We'll known in Alaska
24:00 Really, REALLY, bad source research here. We've dealt with Smith for years up here. For two decades Smith has been an anti-gun advocate and has churned out cookie cutter pro-spray/anti-gun "research artciles". He is absolutely NOT an expert on the subject, but an extremely biased source.
I have spoken at length with Smith about the efficacy of guns and their place as back country deterrents and you are entirely misrepresenting both his motivations and his research.
He is not “anti-gun” nor is his research. I can only conclude you have not read what you are criticizing.
The concept of drawing bear spray and a gun, you may as well just draw the spray. Your grip on that gun will make it pretty much ineffective. Just coming from a guy that knows a little about drawing and the muscle memory involved there and how grip and adrenaline affect your shot
Safety in numbers!! & I love how well balanced this series is! You do a really amazing job at letting people share their stories and have a voice and then coming in after to explain the lessons that should be learned. It reminds me of being in class but much more engaging haha. I also love that I feel like I can show your "guns vs bear spray" video to super pro gun people (not that I'm anti gun, I'm pretty neutral) because you yourself are experienced with guns, you just use facts to show that bear spray is the better choice the vast majority of the time (I know I personally would rather potentially suffer chemical burns from a hiking partner spraying me with bear spray if I was being attacked than a stray gunshot)
Thanks! It’s a topic that I care deeply about, and one that is generally very poorly handled.
I believe in tools and their proper and effective use. Bear spray is extremely effective, non lethal to humans and bears alike and much easier master.
I wouldn’t say it’s “better”, but it is the tool every adult should carry and know how to use. If people take firearms, they should ensure they are extremely responsible and proficient so that they are an asset rather than a liability.
It’s a nuanced conversation to be sure. Thanks for being part of it!
jadasakura Many people like hiking alone for whatever reason. I sure wouldn’t….. The woods / forest is a dangerous place.
That's one tough, courageous man.
Sometimes bear spray is just a seasoning for humans as far as some bears are concerned, be sure to take adequate protection with you when in bear country.
Stay tuned. I’ve been talking more with Todd this week and we’ve got some new content coming in the next few weeks.
there is just something about bears that both scares us and yet fascinates us
i mean just look at how much coverage there was about timothy treadwells tragic story
They are cute too though is the weird thing. You ever see them bite their paws and huff? Shit :-) wil fuzzie bois. just don't brutally maul my intestines out ya know
Treadwell was harassing wildlife. It's abuse. We really need laws against harassing wildlife because now the deranged "screen economy" perverse incentives has made a flood of Treadwells influencers harassing wildlife for clicks $$$ that is more and more stressing the wildlife and putting people who enjoy nature responsibly in higher risk.
@@Marty_Wildman😆😆😆
As British 🇬🇧 I find this fascinating! Terrifying and majestic animals - apex god of the woods for sure . I’m at a loss as to why anyone would go deep into such a place ON THEIR OWN 😯!!! Also - had a gun but not as available and practised either as the spray ?!!
I find his calmness inspiring must say. Cool guy 👍
I can tell you why. We are born and raised in the mountains, and rain forests of British Columbia, Canada. It is in our DNA to be out in the wild. At least that's what I think although nor sure what chromosome it would be in our genome. We were wild children not city kids but farm & forest children. We forage for mushrooms, onion, ginger, sting nettle to eat and wildflowers. My brother hunts elk to eat. My son-in-law worked in forestry; my daughter hikes the alpine where the group she belongs to has safe cabins for the night. We camp. I hike every day in the woods, It keeps the S.A.D away. We have generational experiences and stories with bears, I now live on a small lake, in the rain-forest of Vancouver Island where black bear estimates range from 7,000 to 12,000 individuals, the largest black bear population in the world. But no grizzlies. I would not survive the city, "Wild Should Remain Wild" is my slogan.
As for the dogmatic "Guns are better" positions, well, I have seen many police viceos, body cams, which show police pulling their guns and the camera almost always shows police hands shaking almost violently. When adrenalin is flushing through a person, even a professional with a gun, one never knows how things will go and if a bullet will hit it's mark with a death blow. A bear is not a target at a shooting range and a shooting range target does not cause a flash of adrenaline.
Best book on the subject is 'Bear attacks: Their causes, and avoidances' by Stephen Herrero.
I live close to the Rocky Mountains in Canada, and am terrified to ever meet a bear. We have had the occasional grizzly bear and cubs visiting our area. I've seen videos of people who were hiking a short drive away from our place that have been attacked and some killed. I love seeing them from my truck, but I try to be prepared even on a short walk to the many falls in the area.
We live in Wasilla Alaska. We are maybe 100 yards from the little Su river. Bear spray is always near. By near I mean in my hands or on my hip. Yes I carry a pistol but honestly I think the bear spray is a much better tool. Muscle memory is so true and I’m now going to work on that more in practice. We also play a lot of disc golf and paddle board. Often there’s no one around for miles and miles and probably more bear than people anyway. Love this education
Is your house bear proof? It’s amazing how well bears can open doors. Especially those bears used to living around people in populated areas. A lot of wildlife is becoming less wild and more domesticated. Especially the deer.
Thanks so much for watching!
Wasilla is great. I love living and being in places where I am nit at the top of the food chain.
I was charged three times by brown bear here in Slovakia, two times a used my bike to scare a bear and one time bear changed his decision and scared away. I think after this video that bear spray may be the best protection.
With bike you mean Motorcycle or bicycle? I wonder if engine exhaust noise would scare them away
Don’t you have weapons there? Or are they allowed?
@@onerider808no they're not allowed in SVK
@johanneswilhelm10 that dont work on mtn lion's.. maybe bears
where exactly in Slovakia?
I know this might be a stupid question...Is there any clothing, e.g., vest, pants, boots, etc., that is tough enough to consider as "bear proof"? Something to help protect the delicate flesh we have for a short quick attach. Maybe a vest/pants with chemicals that get dispersed during the attach after the packaging is ripped open. Just a thought. I know the first defense is to respect the area and know that they are out there.
What if u play dead and the bear begins to eat u
Very educational video, thanks so much!
Glad you enjoyed it! I’ve been watching people use Todd’s experience to argue dangerous falsehoods for close to eight years now.
Hoping this video can set the record straight. I invite to to help in that effort by sharing this video.
Simply the BEST! I appreciated it's your video's and not random flashes of strange faces with weird music. I subscribed. I live in bear country so I like to watch different scenarios of what to do in a bear attack. I carry bear spray in my hand with safety off. I will check out your ABC's video. Glad you survived Todd!
Welcome aboard! I consider my Bear Attack ABCs video to be the most important bear safety resource I’ve ever produced. Hope you enjoy.
Keep up the good work! It's so true that in a crisis moment, you don't have time to stop and think. Being as prepared as possible is the only way. Your videos are a must for anyone planning to go into bear country.
Very informative, thanks for having this conversation!
I met a tourist near Banff who asked to hike with me. The last thing I want to do is hike with a tourist for some many reasons, it’s a liability to me lol As an excuse I told him that the hikes I do require bear spray (my gut feeling was that he didn’t carry any). He said he didn’t need bear spray and proceeded to show me a video he took of a grizzly and two cubs he saw on a hike, probably less than 100 feet away 😳 I think maybe he thought he was like an animal whisperer or something, like “one with nature”. I thought I was going to see him in the news of a tourist dying from a bear attack. So wild, I wish there was more education for tourists out there!
UNREAL! Great interview! I'm in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We have black bear, and I've only seen them from a car. Good enough for me!! And the good Lord got other plans for Todd....he needs him here!!
I grew up in the UP! Never heard of a black bear attack. Did have a pack of wolves go through the trails in munising , eating peoples pets and scaring them off the trails. But everyone was ok. I miss the UP!
@@CaseyPeterson-cu5rm Hi Casey...where are you at now?? I left the UP decades ago, and after ALMOST a year...I booked it right back...I can't imagine being anywhere else.
@@LadyYoop I’m in a suburb of Detroit. We travel to the UP every year for vacation though! Love it up there. My business here makes it hard to leave the city. Maybe when we retire I’ll move back.
@@CaseyPeterson-cu5rm I'm in Houghton now..I lived in the woods in Baraga and got to feed all the wild critters and birds, and oh how I miss that....come on HOME when you can!
@@LadyYoop oh we LOVE Houghton!! We are planning a trip for the fall , can’t wait to get back 💕
Thank you Mike for a very informative video!
What about carrying bells as you walk? Does noise help reduce the chance of an encounter? Great story from Todd and thank God he is well.
Thanks!
I generally advise against bear bells. There’s no compelling evidence that they work without conditioning bears. They create terrible noise pollution in the wilderness and they often lead to lower situational awareness.
It’s best to keep your eyes and ears up, travel in groups, and call out or clap when a surprise encounter is possible.
For more, make sure to watch my How to Survive: Bear Attack ABCs video.
ruclips.net/video/5rqa4KhjpSE/видео.htmlsi=STx4hY-dhRFdPSlJ
First of all I’d never go into a forest by myself. Two other well armed men with me or I just don’t go. Second. I’d never camp out in woods common to bears with a woman. Women bleed and bears smell blood at great distance if the wind is in the right direction.
The two questions I have is what kind of immediate knock down power does bear spray have? If that bear has the speed and momentum to reach you it can kill you in seconds or hurt so badly you can survive long enough to reach help. Second, how well will bear spray work if it’s a windy day? Wind won’t blow away a bullet.
Men bleed too. You do know some women don't have periods and if they do, it's not a daily thing?
@@misfitm1457 my answer to that is two things. If you cut yourself, get out of there and stay out until healed. Two, I don’t have time to follow a female’s calendar and i sure as hell don’t want to have that to worry about.
Women bleed....LOL...but not every day. We mostly, then are not bleeding. And not at all post menopause.
Everyone thinks they are a marksmen, especially under extreme stress of a bear attack. Ya it doesn’t work that way.
Probably not a good idea 🤔 to be anywhere near BEARS 🐻 with or without Bear Spray 🙄
Its a risk you take enjoying the outdoors
1 hour from Seattle and theirs bears that will attack you
@ WOW 😮
Great video it's cool you have the actual person to tell their story
Bear spray out here giving people a false sense of security
There are many things giving people a false sense of security. Bear spray is an excellent tool for backcountry defense, but it is not a guarantee.
Watch the full video and you’ll see why people have been learning all the wrong lessons from Todd’s experience.
That's right Travis. I can think off memory without grabbing my brown bear book of 6 people killed after unloading a full can. Your smartest move is to train visiting a gun range a dozen times before entering brown bear country. Because brown bears when adrenalized cover 30 ft per second in a full on attack. So being trained and confident gives a person a better chance of survival due to panic that has happened to every bear attack survivor. These grizzlies take the lives of dogs and hikers. I've been studying actual situations because I own bear biologist books. Tom Smith and Steven Herrera are people you need to research before ever considering going into north America territory. The full truth on #s of people not coming home from hunting/camping/hiking isn't 100% because it can hurt park revenue. 2020 was an unusual year in north America 8-10 people+ mauled in Alaska. If your going to vacation in bear country best advice I can give is never under any circumstances hunt or hike solo. 90% of those injured or worse were solo hiking/fishing etc. Good luck people.🙏👍 🐻👈
One of the biggest things people need to keep in mind is where you're at if you encounter a bear, for instance if you're just out in the country on public lands then yeah you could probably use a gun to eliminate the bear and the threat, however if you're in a national park like Yellowstone or Glacier National Park, it is a different story because you cannot use a gun on a bear, so really you're only defense is going to be the bear spray, I mean it may not be a cure-all thing, but something is better than nothing! There are plenty enough stories out there where bear spray has kept someone from being attacked, so the saying bear spray doesn't work, I believe his nonsense because you're setting people up to be hurt because you telling them bear spray doesn't work then they're not going to carry any!
Very informative. Saving this video and watch several times. Practice is important!
Most bear attacks are because people surprised the bear! I make a lot of noise, I especially whistle because bear don't like whistles or bells! Most bears are booking it the other way when they come accross humans
I like your vdo. And Im new here. I have a question, in the vdo, bears eat carcass and why they'd leave us if we play dead?
Great info & interview w Todd ✅ you went above & beyond with getting the biologist opinion.
Glad you enjoyed it! Todd has an amazing and amazingly enlightening story to tell.
Another great video with helpful tips for safety for humans and bears, two thoughts I had while watching was if handguns was used instead of bear spray how the first encounter would have changed with a potentially wounded bear. The second thought is I would luv to see how best to deploy bear spray when using trekking poles, I have tried a few different ways but is not slick at all.
Great video. What about making constant noise during a hike like talking singing or some sort of noise maker? Is there any data on that? Thanks in advance.
SOME BEARS MIGHT DECIDE THAT SOUNDS LIKE FOOD, WHILE OTHERS MIGHT RUN AWAY.
I just like animal knowledge and I think bears are cool. And scary. Thanks for the video
Thanks for watching!
Could the whole incident be avoided if Todd was hiking in a group?
Almost certainly. Mother grizzlies are very protective, but they’re not stupid.
Numbers matter in the backcountry. Groups of three or more are almost never attacked IF they stand their ground and know how and when to us their deterrents.
Grizzlies will still charge groups, but a group of people who know what they are doing are almost impervious to a daytime bear attack.
This was very, very helpful as I have felt really vulnerable when going into bear country so I mostly avoid it. Practicing preparation seems to be a key factor. It was really helpful to hear from the survivor of a bear attack being prepared with both hairspray and a pistol at the same time. I would not have thought of that!
I wouldn’t have thought of hair spray either!! I wonder if it was Pantene or Vidal Sassoon? 🤪😂
hairspray? BEAR SPRAY.
@@cobainzlady
Ha! I’m certain we all know she meant to say bear spray. 🤪❤️
Never go during your moon cycle. Seriously.
I will be watching this with my son and his girlfriend as they love to camp, and he thinks a firearm is important as a defence against bears. He’s so young (20) I feel it’s my duty to watch this video with them along with the other video you’ve done on guns versus bear spray. I’ll also be purchasing them each their own bear spray if they don’t already have one. Thank you so much for the education and information! 🙏🏻🇨🇦
Glad to help. I also suggest watching my Bear attack ABCs video (link below) which rather than responding to internet misinformation lays out the sequence of avoidance, deterrents, and how to respond if attacked.
I consider it my most important Bear safety video.
How to survive | Bear Attack ABCs #wildspaces #bears #guns #grizzlies #polarbear #attack
ruclips.net/video/5rqa4KhjpSE/видео.html
My family is going hiking this summer in bear country, and I’ve made sure they’ll have a capable gun. I would never trust my family’s safety to bear spray, which has failed.
So sad your govt won't let you defend yourself, even from grizzlies...
it might not work in some cases, so they do need both imo. a dog also helps smell bear and alert the humans. but must be on a leash ! or they can lead a bear back to t heir master. And go in groups !
Excellent video content. Well done!
Much appreciated! Hope you’ll consider sharing.
If I survived a grizzly attack, and returned to grizzly country, a year later, some might say that my chances of being attacked again are slim:
But, I think that they would be wrong. I would know that I had been attacked before, but the grizzly doesn't know that! As far as the bear is concerned, I FRESH meat.
Hey Mike, could you ever make a video on auditory deterrents like Tru Flare bear bangers, Air horns, Whistles, etc… Covering their effectiveness, the potential hazards, and how and when to use them.
Thanks for the request! I will say that a video on deterrent alternatives is in the works, but not first in line. It may take a little while to get around to, but it is coming.
Stay tuned. More to come.
@@HomeInWildSpaces That’s good to hear, will do. Keep up the great work!
The sad part about him, and I'm going to pray about it. You been attacked twice and said you're lucky!! I pray you start knowing that God protected you. If you say it later, that's great, but I can't listen to stories like this, and it's luck. No!! My prayers you start knowing God is why you're still here.🙏🏾🙏🏾
When he 1st noted that the bear had seen him from a distance, would it have been wise for him to play dead at that moment before she even got up to him?
Great interview!!! I love bears 🐻. They are beautiful but frightful creatures. I live down South and just realized that we have black bears and I had no idea. I think you are supposed to play unalive with grizzly bears and fight back with black bears. I’m not sure but I’m definitely researching now. I’ve been in the woods several times and never even thought about bears. Thank you for educating us. I’ve subscribed and liked this video so that I can get your channel recommended to me.
Welcome to the community! Especially appreciate the sub!
If you’re looking for information on how to respond to a black bears, grizzlies and polar bears, I’ve included all that in my bear attack ABCs video.
How to survive | Bear Attack ABCs #wildspaces #bears #guns #grizzlies #polarbear #attack
ruclips.net/video/5rqa4KhjpSE/видео.html
Man. You gotta be careful out there. Of course me and my brother on holiday from the UK when out in bear country one of the first things we bought was bearspray and lo and behold saw a bear really close the next day in Glacier national Park. Not aggressive but glad we had it lol your footage is incredible mate. The Black Grizzlies are beautiful proves how important it is to know your bears.
I'm glad Todd is doing well. You should talk about Timothy Treadwell and the hundreds of mistakes he did in bear country. This man even swam with a bear. He only survived ten years on pure luck. It's morbidly fascinating
Great idea!! I would love to see a video like that. It fascinates me that he was so trusting of the bears.
@laikanbarth
Must also fascinate you that all they found of treadwell was his head and his hand with wrist watch still on it .😅
A video on Treadwell is in the works. Stay tuned.
@@HomeInWildSpaces that's cool.
The sad thing his girlfriend was going to break up with him
Really appreciate your work.
Very informative, thanks to both. I noted his comment that he wished he had not been in too much of a hurry to stop when he entered the clearing. That's what animals do. Deer, bear, cougar and I'm sure hunter-gatherer humans have always done the same thing. It's a habit I've gotten into.
I love your channel. It is very informative. I need to ask though, is some of your video of black bears while you're talking about grizzlies?
Yes. It was sometimes necessary to use black bear footage in this video.
a bear's a bear , kinda, when they are attacking you. blacks do it too.
@@cobainzlady true - but the likelihood and purpose are not the same.
I certainly learned that it is wise to slowly enter open areas and to grab your spray the moment you see any signs of a bear in the area.
Great interview!
Grizzly Bears are terrifying for me. Once, I was in grizzly bear country, and I totally forgot they existed. Their range has shrunk since the 1880s. Once plentiful from Alaska to Mexico. They just recently found a grizzly bear on a mexican mountain. In mexico, they have huge, expansive rolling hills and mountains. You can definitely see they used to live there.
They need space.
Where they are plentiful now in the USA, there is no hunting pressure, so they have zero fear of humans. The population is booming.
If you ever do a q&a type video, maybe you can cover this question that I can't seem to easily find an answer to online: how does the pain of tear gas compare to bear spray?
I was riding my bike in the mountains going from banff to canmore. I just got to the top of a long climb and was gliding down , looking to my right at the scenery. I decided to glance forward to make sure the path was good. I looked back right, and it dawned on me that i just saw a grizzly bear eating something on the pathway in front of me, facing away from me. I slammed on my brakes and staeted wondering what i should do as i was not stopping in time. Then my tires started to squeal on the rock path and the bear took off into the woods. He started pounding on the ground, so i turned around and waited a bit. I forgot my bear spray and ax in the car .
So I’m gathering he’s looking to be attacked a THIRD TIME By standing there, making videos of his injuries, obviously, his priority does not lie with tending to his injuries. He’s MORE concerned about making a viral video instead !!it’s so sick. What social media does to people?!!
As a women I went hunting in the past. No grizzlies here in VA. Could it be possible the cans be changed were they are attached to the shoulder. The nozzles would be changed, so if a person is attacked or on the ground already. The nozzle is facing their face so they back off.
I'm Spanish, my son spent a year living in Montana and he used to go hiking and running in the mountains. I think I didn't sleep well until he came back home!😵💫
You wont catch me within 200 miles of bear territory on foot. No doing it even if i had 3 armed guards. Waiting for elk to come around somewhere not in grizz territory. If i even seen one for real i would never go to sleep again.
Evans fought back. But I think he's bigger than most ppl.
Jeremy Evans. The guy looked very large and muscular.
Did Todd even have a pistol as an option in this attack? I mean after the first attack or perhaps in an alternate scenario combination spray and pistol (if it worked out that way). Option, options, options. They may not always 100% present themselves that way but without the option, you absolutely have 100% , no ability to try.
Todd did have a gun. We spoke at length about which guns he normally takes into the backcountry. I’ll discuss in greater detail in future videos.
he says it in this video
Man, you are one lucky bastard. Glad you made it!!
Thanks for sharing your experience 👍👍🙏
didn’t set the seen at all, where was he?
I wouldn't trust using that shit anymore than I would use hairspray!
That is of course your call. But it doesn’t change the fact that it is remarkably effective when used correctly.
You are thinking with your nose. A bears sense of smell is 2100x greater than a humans sense of smell. Getting sprayed with bear spray would be really bad. Multiply that by 2100.
You are wiser than most on this goofy channel. If a bear LOOKS at me like he's going to charge, daddy gets a new rug!
@elchaposexcitingadventures1674 The weather and the wind also have to be in your favor.
As I said before, I would not trust relying on some damn spray!
@@robertfrapples2472 🤣😂🤣
A study published on Ammoland reviews 123 cases in which handguns were used against determined bear attacks, not just curious or nuisance bears as is typically the case with bear spray, and concludes handguns are 98% effective at stopping aggressive behavior from bears. Interestingly, caliber seems to matter little. While cartridges like .44 Magnum are more popular and absolutely effective, one case from Russia involved a 9x18 and several cases involved a .38 Special. All were effective.
Pepper spray has a max effective range under ideal conditions of 30 feet. A grizzly charges at 35 to 40 mph. That is just under 60 fps. If you do the math, that means you can't begin affecting a bear's behavior with spray until it is half a second from you. Good luck with that.
We must distinguish between real attacks and everything else. Nuisance behavior like sniffing around your campsite, standing, stomping, popping jaws, raking the ground, or bluff charges are not predatory behavior. That is the bear telling you he is annoyed by your presence and offering you and out to avoid violence. These are the only cases spray is likely to be successful, and if you're smart, you won't pick a fight. Take advantage of that opportunity and leave. In a real attack, there will be no warning. Bears are ambush predators, so if the bear detects you before you detect the bear, or rather when, as a bloodhound's nose is 300 times better than yours and that grizzly's nose is 7 times better than a bloodhound's, it is going to approach from your flank. You're going to hear limbs crashing, look up, and see 800 pounds of apex predator coming at you from 50 yards, and realize you have 3 seconds to draw whatever you have and make it count. Choose wisely.
Well said/written. For me personally it comes down to the more surest way to survive and that comes with a Firearm, on top of proper training and awareness probably above all. But I have seen far too many videos of Grizzlies playing in Bear spray like a cat does Catnip. I just won’t risk it, especially when my family is with me. Now I don’t want to ever have to KiLL anything that is just doing what it does naturally especially a Mama Bear protecting her cubs so I think being aware of your surroundings and knowing that you are in Bear country after all is the first line of defense. I think people become far too complacent and sometimes forget that they are in the WILD amongst WILD animals and it is THEIR home NOT ours. You are Never 100% safe anywhere.
Bear spray just pisses the bear off! Why do they keep pushing bear spray ??????
You are repeating a popular, self-debunking falsehood.
A charging bear is already “pissed”. Ergo, the bear spray is not responsible for disrupting the bear’s emotions.
Bear spray is an extremely effective tool. It could have been more effective in Todd’s case, but it did its job.
@3:20 Did he ever randomly think about not going into with wilderness with Grizzly Bears that want to eat him?!🤔
I am watching this video from the comfort of my living room!
I don’t ever find myself in bear country but if I ever do your videos will have helped me to prepare.
Great advice and video
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting! I hope you’ll consider sharing as well.
Does the bear really think that you're dead, if you PLAY dead?
Or, are we underestimating the intelligence of these creatures? 🤔
The bear likely knows, but I’d wager it also knows that if you’re willing to persist in the ruse it’s because you recognize it’s superiority and therefore you are not a threat. So long as most bears don’t have a familiarity with human meat and don’t take a liking to it playing dead is just another way to communicate the same thing as the spray does “I don’t want any trouble with you, please leave me alone “
@@JennfamousartBlogspot
But, I think that, sometimes, bears, especially grizzlies, kill because they're a bit nuts. Psychotic. I read of a grizzly that attacked a young mother who was out for a walk in a wooded area. And, after the mother was dead, the grizzly killed the mother's infant child. What threat was this infant to the grizzly?
I was charged by a Grizzly in the Bitteroot and thank God it had to cross a fast rushing stream that was caused by an avalanche across the normally flat wider stream. When the bear hit that stream it took it down stream and caused a distraction. I immediately dropped my backpack because of the conditioning practice of yell and wave your arms and then hit your quick release on your backback and drop it to distract the bear and then climb a tree. Because the bear was distracted this worked. If it was not distracted it would have caught one of us and grizzly dont lope along like in the movies, they look like a dog chasing a car! If you can get up a tree as soon as you see a bear you can then keep the bear from climbing and attacking with bear spray and a pistol. The key to that is immediately get up a tree and let the bear pass and it gets your scent up in the air. We had bear spray but not a pistol. Definitely carried a weapon after that charge everytime.
Very helpful information! I seldom camp or hike in places where a bear encounter is at all likely, but before my next trip I'm going to buy a holster and practice with my bear spray...just in case.
My question has always been how has it been confirmed that the same bear attacked him twice?
It hasn’t 8:01
That was 1 lucky man I haven't seen a grisly bear they ain't around were I live and glad their not.
A great video. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching! I hope you'll consider sharing.
Our instinct is as good as bear's has: we knew it .A better spray is a powerful gun.
What about a siren?
I had to unsubscribe from a channel I used to watch on RUclips because they were pressing hard on carrying a gun instead of spray ( the channel is, Gonagain , video titled "Bear Spray Against Grizzlies?" ). The internet sure is fun to sift through all the misinformation and it can get you in a pickle of a situation to be sure.
Thanks for your informative videos and for including all the data and research to back up your claims. It has made me be very much more mindfull of how I approach hiking and prepping before enjoying the outdoors.
Yeah, Ive watched that video. He is sharing a popular, but dangerously problematic viewpoint.
The internet has turned most commenters/influencers into mother goose. They weave largely fictional narratives of their choosing, sprinkling a few valid points along the way, but ultimately deceive themselves and others.
Gonagain’s argument is a popular one, rewarded by the internet. But speaking for myself the quality of information must be more important than popularity. I believe that when people have the best information, they can also make the best decisions.
Thanks to being part of that community! I hope you’ll consider sharing this video. People have been force-fed many dangerous fallacies following Todd’s experience, among others including the Banff attack.
I’m hoping, together, we can set the record straight.
Haha, I subscribed to his channel, _because_ of that video! 😆 There’s no way I would rely on bear spray. It fails too often.
@@PeaceIsJesusChrist , according to what data?or is this just a "what I feel" thing ya got going on there?
@@johnb1567
Yeah, I had a dream about bear spray not working, woke up in the morning and thought, “Gosh, you know, bear spray probably doesn’t work. I should tell everyone it fails based on my dream and feelings, because that would be responsible and honest!” 🤔 My saying that bear spray fails isn’t based on actually knowing it fails-I just felt like saying it. Like that couple in Canada who got killed because their bear spray failed-I mean, who believes that? So yeah, I’m saying bear spray fails because I _feel_ it probably would-not because of any actual accounts I’ve heard or read about.
Kidding! 🤪
@@johnb1567
Yeah, I had a dream about it not working, woke up in the morning and thought, “Gosh, you know, bear spray probably doesn’t work. I should tell everyone it fails based on my dream and feelings, because that would be responsible and honest!” 🤔
My saying it fails isn’t based on actually knowing it fails-I just felt like saying it. Like that couple in Canada who got killed because theirs failed-I mean, who believes that?
So yeah, I’m saying it fails because I _feel_ it probably would-not because of any actual accounts I’ve heard or read about.
Kidding! 🤪
Of course, if she is defending her cubs. Bear spray is not disabling; it is just unpleasant. She can easily overcome more than that to protect her cubs.
Ek het nou al ń paar van die beer episodes gekyk, nou wonder ek net; sal ń bees protter nie ń beter beskerming bied as net die beer spray nie?
I love the name of this channel! 😅
Now why would I imagine such a thing
What about loud blow horns and more cans of spray than relying on one little can.
Todd is one strong man to have lived to tell about TWO horrific attacks by that beast. Wow