Join The Hiking Forum Now for Free!

Join a Community of Hikers and Backpackers from Around the World. Find and post detailed Trail Reports. Find and discuss the Best Hiking Gear for Your Budget. Become a Better Hiker with the help of Hikers and Backpackers all over the World. Join The Hiking Forum Today, it’s Free!

Bear spray or pepper spray

Shawn

Administrator
Forum Admin
Forum Moderator
Joined
Jul 6, 2024
Messages
674
Reaction score
422
Location
Metropolis, Illinois
Do any of your always carry some sort of defense spray such as bear spray or pepper spray?

Whether or not there are potentially hazardous wildlife present, hazardous humans are always a possibility.

Do you think it's important to arm yourself with defense spray just in case?
 
The animal I'm most concerned about is ticks. I would definitely carry bear spray in Grizzly country, and Mountain Lions can be dangerous out west. I've spent innumerable nights in black bear country, and never came close to any kind of incident. A small rattlesnake once lunged at me and missed in Kentucky's Red River Gorge. Near the Rockcastle Narrows in Kentucky I was awakened from a deep sleep at 4am in my hammock by loud horrible animal noises. Within seconds I realized what they were, but when I tried to shout nothing came out because I was still a bit in shock from the abrupt awakening. Then I took a deep breath and yelled You get outta here you pigs!!! They squealed and skedaddled, and I got an early start on the day.
 
The animal I'm most concerned about is ticks. I would definitely carry bear spray in Grizzly country, and Mountain Lions can be dangerous out west. I've spent innumerable nights in black bear country, and never came close to any kind of incident. A small rattlesnake once lunged at me and missed in Kentucky's Red River Gorge. Near the Rockcastle Narrows in Kentucky I was awakened from a deep sleep at 4am in my hammock by loud horrible animal noises. Within seconds I realized what they were, but when I tried to shout nothing came out because I was still a bit in shock from the abrupt awakening. Then I took a deep breath and yelled You get outta here you pigs!!! They squealed and skedaddled, and I got an early start on the day.
Pigs would make me nervous because they can get pretty mean. We saw a bunch of them at Land Between the Lakes on the Tennessee side this past spring.

You're right, though. Ticks are probably the worst predators out there! They can give you crippling diseases when just one bite.

Ever heard raccoons fighting? Those are some of the most demonic sounds I've ever heard!
 
Heard them late at night in our back yard. So did our dog, unfortunately. She was vocal about it for quite some time.
We heard them at a campground. Woke me and my wife up in our tent from a dead sleep. Though an alien invasion was happening LOL.
 
Back
Top