Bear spray

[1][2] Capsaicin bear spray was developed in the mid-1980s[3] under principal investigator Carrie Hunt, a University of Montana graduate student working under the supervision of Charles Jonkel and Bart O'Gara.

[4][5] Hunt had identified commercial pepper sprays as an effective deterrent for bears in previous research; however, they were unreliable[6] and required close proximity.

[8] The product produced by the company he founded, Counter Assault, became the first Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered aerosol bear spray.

While bear spray can be effective, authorities stress that proper bear-awareness and avoidance techniques are the best ways to minimize injuries due to human–bear conflict.

It can be purchased even in Hawaii, New York, or Massachusetts, where standard pepper sprays are illegal unless bought locally by certified firearms dealers or pharmacists.

[23] News outlets reported that bear spray was used during the January 6 United States Capitol attack in Washington D.C. against Brian Sicknick, a police officer who died.

[24][dubious – discuss] Washington DC's medical examiner determined that Sicknick died of "natural causes – specifically, a series of strokes."

[24] Several Canadian police forces routinely deal with incidents of illegal use of bear spray against humans, including Edmonton,[25] Vancouver[26] and Saskatoon.