Self-defense: Bear Mace

We live in aggressive times. Thugs in back alleys, aggressive drivers, annoying drunkards, uncontrolled dogs, uncontrolled teenagers... Sometimes you rather choose to stay at home, than facing them. But there is way, how to protect yourself, without carrying handgun, which often causes more troubles than helps to solve. It's called bear mace.

Bear mace is type of pepper spray. It uses Oleoresin Capsicum filling, which is stored in pressured can. The name suggest its main use is to defend against bears and other large animals, but human is often the most dangerous predators, especially to his own kind. Therefore bear mace is often used as a personal self-defence non-lethal weapon. You could see it in action for example in the Dog The Bounty Hunter serie.

Today, the bear mace has the same chemical formula as pepper spray. Original bear mace used to by filled rather by tear-gas like content (orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile, abbreviated as CN). However, this doesn't work against attackers influenced by drugs or alcohol and due to harmful health impact it is banned in increasing number of states.

Modern bear mace comes from the Mace company (called Bear Pepper Mace). Other companies offer their variations of bear mace, all of them based on OC (sometimes mixed with CN).

Bear mace contains OC gas. Once the trigger is pressed, it creates stream of foam-like fog, which is able to reach distance around 30 feet/10 meters. The can empties in approximately 5-6 seconds. Since the stream creates large barrier in front of you, the chance of missing your target is minimal, even attacker tries to manoeuvre

The difference between pepper spray and bear mace is in higher range of bear mace. This not only helps you to hit the target sooner - it also prevents you from hitting your own face, when there is wind are you run forwards while using the spray..

Always make a test burst, when you buy a new brand of mace, so you can learn the effective range and spread. Be aware that lower temperatures bring lower pressure in the can and thus lower range. Carry your mace under your jacket in temperatures below zero.

Mace is classified as an inflammatory agent and will immediately incapacitate an attacker. Short blast of the spray will render an attackerl incapacitated for 15 minutes to over an hour. It will induce coughing, choking, nausea, it will dilates the capillaries of the eyes causing temporary blindness, the mucous membranes will swell to the point of cutting off all but life support breathing, causes intense burning and an assailant to be temporarily incapacitated. All effects are described in the U.S. Department of Justice study

There is a rating system used for OC Pepper ( Oleo Capsicum ) spray that is called SHU units ( Scoville Heat Units). The reference is for the burning effect it has on the skin on contact and is now a standardized model so different products can be rated. Most of the sprays come between 7,500 - 25,000 SHU, however sprays over 2,000,000 SHU were constructed. After using such, attacker needs acute medical treatment.

While both are from the same 'pepper spray' familly, with similar chemical content, there is significant difference. Since they are intended to protect against animals of different size, they have different size too. While dog mace, or (dog pepper spray) has content usually only of up to 1 oz. (28g) and active range up to 10 feet (3m), bear mace can contain far over 10 oz. (280g) with effective range coming close to 30 feet (10m).

With bear mace you can not only score by direct hit, but also create a 'pepper wall' between you and the aggressor.

Don't forget there are also ultrasonic dog repellents, simple whistles which create sound unbearable for the any dog.

Good old scatter gun seems like an obvious choice. However, it's not true - research shows that in most cases people surprised by bear attack are not able to shot it by the first shot and there is usually no time for second. Injured bear is even more dangerous and determined to kill its opponent. Bear mace on the other hand is proven to repel bears very effectively with higher accuracy. If you hit bear's face, the effectiveness is close to 100%. .

Bear Mace vs. Bullets, official report

If you want to defend yourself, or just you want to feel confident while walking through park, bear pepper spray is a great choice. Handguns are often illegal and cause serious injuries and also large stress to bearer. Knives can cause lethal injuries, but the attacker can continue for several minutes, before he realizes his wounds. Baton requires good fighting skills; any experienced thug can disarm you and use it against you.

Bear mace is small, easy to use and highly effective. Unlike traditional pepper spray, both dog and bear mace can be shippe to Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts or Wisconsin.