I looked up bear attacks in Wikipedia and found some disturbing statistics for North America pertaining to deaths caused by brown and black bears in the past few decades. It only listed the deaths, and although there are not a lot, that may be because records on this have not been well kept until recently, especially in the more remote areas. It did not state the number of people who have been attacked and survived, only to be scarred for life.

Bears for the most part are afraid of humans and will run away from us. They won’t bother us if they don’t have a reason to. But then, just like in any species including man, there are the renegade bears who don’t need a reason, or at least it doesn’t seem like there is a reason. But these animals are wild and no matter how egotistical we are in thinking we can tame them, they will always be wild until the day they die. No amount of training, taming or kindness can turn a wild animal into a completely trustworthy pet. Many have tried and many have died in their attempts. One such incident involved a bear that had been trained for movies killing his handler.

If a bear is going to attack, it will not be choosy about who or where it attacks. Individuals from young to old have been targeted. They include bikers, joggers, hunters, campers, fishermen, and hikers. They have been dragged out of tents, trailers and cabins. Bears as small as 112 lbs to grizzlies over 800 lbs. are all solid muscle and deadly claws and teeth. If you run into a renegade, it doesn’t really matter if it is a black, brown or polar bear. You are in big trouble.

Bear attacks have taken place in several states, not just Alaska. New York, California, Washington state, Utah, Colorado and Tennessee are some of the states in which bear attacks have been recorded. Canada also seems to have a lot of attacks. They come wandering into towns and neighborhoods, near schools and into yards looking for food, disregarding the fine line between wild and domestic.

So, how can you be safe if you come face to face with a renegade bear? The most powerful bear defense spray on the market is what you need to carry with you, in it’s holster on your belt within easy reach. That is the Guard Alaska Bear Spray, the only ultra hot pepper spray registered with the EPA as a repellent against ALL species of bear. It will spray up to 20 ft and is safe for the environment. The statistics on bear attacks are frightening. They don’t seem to just kill. They kill for food and may even start eating their prey before it is dead. Yes, attacks are rare. But they do happen and it seems naive to think it could never happen to you. Why take the chance?

Nature has so many resources for us to enjoy. We get so caught up in our corporate worlds and our technological toys that we miss out on the silence and awesome wonder of taking a walk through the forest. Some of us have been too afraid of being attacked by a wild animal to go out and enjoy the solitude, the smells of the Evergreen trees and the wet earth. We miss the feel of a fern brushing across our bare leg or the sight of a spider web covered with dew. Nature is gradually disappearing. Take advantage of it while you can. Yes, dangers exist out there. But just be respectful of the wild and the animals who inhabit it. It’s their home. We don’t need to be afraid. We need to be aware and be prepared. So get out there this summer and feel the freedom. Just be safe and be sure to take a can of bear spray. Your life is worth protecting.

Karleen Lindsey has spent most of her life in the out of doors, enjoying the awesome beauty and lessons to be found there. She understands the importance of experiencing this in order to bring harmony to our otherwise noisy, chaotic lives. But prior to venturing out into the wilderness this summer, check out Karleen’s Guard Alaska Bear Spray and Bear Pepper Mace Spray. Receive a 20% discount-coupon code 3254