A Bear on my porch!

[judy]

Thanks Gayle! I just went to Cabela's site, and found the bear spray. Is pepper spray as good? I will be getting a can of either bear spray or pepper spray.

I also hear that putting ammonia in the garbage deters them from wanting to eat it. I think an ammonia soaked towel in the garbage room will help.

I've been looking it up, and the main things that attract bears are garbage, bird feeders, and grills. My grill is on the deck, but I can clean it and bring the drippings pan inside.

I looked online and we do have a bear hunting season in the fall. One
bear/license/year is allowed. NJ is having a statewide bear hunt. I don't know what their regulations are.

I think the best I can do is to make my house as unappealing as possible, so the bears don't keep coming back.

I am going to ask who to call if I hear a bear again. I don't know if the sheriff will come or not.

[gja1000]

Judy, the reason you need actual Bear Spray is because it shoots the stream a much farther distance than regular pepper spray. You don't want to to let them get too close and if they seem like they are not going to back off, you want to spray them before they get too close to you.

Lindsay can probably give you another reason why bear spray is preferable to pepper spray. Bear spray is expensive $40-$50 per can. We only take it when we are going hiking in Alaska, and have never had to use it, so we are pretty novice when it comes to bear spray. We did encounter a bear on a trail in Colorado a few years ago. They tell you not to run, but I ran back down that tail as fast as can be! (we didn't have any bear spray with us)

[JJJ]

Originally Posted by gja1000

They tell you not to run, but I ran back down that tail as fast as can be! (we didn't have any bear spray with us)

I can just imagine you

I vote for the bear spray.

[Janet]

I would have passed you by Gayle...lol. I'm glad we don't have bears around here. I think I would be nervous all the time. We do have coyotes, but they don't come around too much. I did post a pic of one awhile back.

[judy]

I know I would scream and run! I don't have to walk the dogs...they are pad trained. I just feel bad for them. They love to go outside.

I will buy the bear spray, and carry it with me.

[paula1961]

Maybe the bear situation will get under control and you can take the doggies out for walks again Judy but right now I would just be too scared to if I were you.

[Lindsey]

Bear spray can shoot pretty far, but it does expire after a couple of years. It's expensive but worth it if you happen to get near a bear, or worse, some cubs! I'm not sure how much other dangerous wildlife you have in your area Judy, but it does come in handy for any other animals as well. We have cougars, wolves, coyotes, etc, which usually keep their distance from humans, but sometimes won't if they feel threatened! But, after spraying the bear spray, you will have to leave the area because it does bring other curious animals around. Hopefully you won't have to spray it at your house! Or, at all!

[Marilyn]

Bear spray sounds good!! But we here in South Texas would recommend a good 12 gauge shotgun as well to back it up. You can never be too careful with big critters like that!! I'd be terrified being there alone with a bear on the front porch!!!!! Please stay safe!!

[judy]

Believe me Marilyn, if I knew how to use it, a shotgun would be my first choice!

I would also take out some of those coyotes down the road! But, alas, I am a city girl, and experimenting with a shotgun on a charging bear is not such a good idea!

I'll stick with the bear spray. We only have coyotes and black bears, although there are some bobcats (?) around.