Only in the North
Biologist bites the dust
Besides bug juice, one of the common items carried by outdoor enthusiasts in the North is a can of bear spray, known for its quick and effective way of deterring a bear or providing it with a negative experience if the bear is becoming “conditioned,” or habituated.
A few years ago, I was guiding a rafting trip with Dave Goble down the Babine River and sharing my knowledge of grizzly bears in the area. One of the highlights of the trip is witnessing grizzly bears catching salmon out of the river in an isolated stretch of the canyon.
After watching the bears for a little while, the coast became clear to venture down along the shore to scout out the nasty drop that makes this location so popular among bears since the salmon mass up by the hundreds at this river restriction. To ensure the safety of guests, a can of pepper spray is on hand with the trigger safety removed in the event of a quick response. To date, I have never had to use the bear salsa on a wild bear, but then there is the other side of the story…
No problem with the scout of the rapid; back in the boats we went for an exhilarating ride down the river.
That evening, camp was set up on the shore of the Skeena River and the usual festive activities ensued. I had set my tent up under a cottonwood grove some distance from the main camp but neglected to bring my flashlight with me.
There was barely enough light to negotiate back to the tent. As I was emerging into the tent, I knelt on the ground in the vestibule and placed my right knee directly on the trigger of the bear spray that I incidentally placed there earlier. This would not have been a problem, if I had put the safety back on following the river scout earlier in the day.
The bulk of the bear deterrent blew past my face (fortunately), took out my right forearm and nailed the tent fly pretty good. The river was close at hand and became my salvation for a spell. The residual spray on my hands was tolerable, as long as I did not touch other parts of my body—a feat easier said then done, especially when nature calls in the middle of the night.
Asphyxiating in the tent was not in the cards, so sleeping under a cottonwood for the night was in order. The next mistake was washing the can of bear spray in the morning; it only takes the slightest of residue to penetrate wet hands and provide hours of amusement to the fellow guides and guests alike.
Every time I handled the oars, it felt like I was holding on to a hot steel rod. (By the way, butter does not neutralize capsaicin; I can tell you from personal experience.) The final leg to Kispiox had my hands more in the Skeena River than on the oars, and the bus ride home was not pleasant for young Joseph Goble who had accidentally brushed by me and started a burning sensation all his own.
Bottom line – respect and treat your bear spray as a loaded weapon, and never bring it into the interior of an aircraft in case pressure differentials cause leakage. Always place the can in an airtight sealed container when not in use or on person.
Hot salsa Lenny (a.k.a. Len Vanderstar)
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