Shayne B. is a 35-year-old wildlife photographer from South Hadley, Massachusetts.
On May 19, 2024, Shayne was hiking Signal Mountain in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
He and his wife Chloe were on their delayed honeymoon.
Shayne had wandered into the woods to photograph a Great Grey Owl.
Walking through a thick wooded valley, Shayne crested a slope and spotted a brown bear cub about sixty yards ahead.
He knew instantly this was not good.
He unholstered his bear spray and saw the mother charging.
She closed the gap in roughly three seconds.
The grizzly bit down on both his legs, picked him up, and thrashed him around.
Shayne went prone, locked his hands behind his neck, and braced for the worst.
Then the grizzly went for the kill shot — the back of his neck.
Instead of his skull, the bear bit down on his bear spray canister.
The can exploded in the grizzly’s jaws and the concentrated capsaicin sprayed the inside of her mouth.
She released Shayne and ran.
Shayne told ABC News that having bear spray on him and keeping it in his hands while covering his vitals is the reason he is telling his story.
He called the attack the most violent thing he has ever experienced.
What really comes through is that Shayne proved the right defensive spray can be the line between walking out of the woods and being carried out.
That’s why it’s important to know what each one actually does.
The key thing is that most people use the labels “bear spray,” “pepper spray,” and “mace” as if they are the same product.
They are not.
And using the wrong one in the wrong situation could leave you hurt or killed.
This is what you need to know about defensive sprays and which ones actually work.
What is pepper spray?
Pepper spray is a self-defense product made with oleoresin capsicum — a natural substance derived from chili peppers.
When deployed against a person, it causes intense inflammation in the eyes, skin, and nose.
The effects can temporarily blind and disorient an attacker, giving you a window to escape.
Most pepper spray canisters fire a stream or cone pattern at a range of ten to twelve feet.
What is bear spray?
Bear spray is a deterrent designed specifically for bears.
It uses the same active ingredient — oleoresin capsicum — but at a higher concentration.
SABRE Frontiersman Bear Spray contains Two percent Major Capsaicinoids, making it about fifty percent stronger than standard pepper spray.
Bear spray also fires at a much greater range — thirty to thirty-five feet — with a wide fog pattern designed to create a barrier between you and a charging animal.
What about wasp spray?
This is where the myth gets dangerous.
Wasp spray is an insecticide designed to poison insects, not to deter people or animals.
It does not cause the inflammatory response that capsaicin creates.
It will not swell an attacker’s eyes shut and will not make them choke or gasp.
Using wasp spray for self defense is unreliable and could put you at risk.
Can you use bear spray on a person?
This is not recommended.
Bear spray is formulated for animals, not people.
The wide fog pattern means you will likely spray yourself in the process, especially indoors or in tight spaces.
And using bear spray on a person could bring consequences under state law depending on where you live.
Can you use pepper spray on a bear?
Also not recommended.
Pepper spray has a shorter range — ten to twelve feet versus thirty-five feet for bear spray.
That means you would be allowing a charging grizzly to come dangerously close before you could deploy it.
Pepper spray also contains a lower concentration of the active ingredient, which may not be enough to deter a bear weighing several hundred pounds.
Drawbacks to defensive sprays:
Wind blowback:
Any spray-based product can blow back into your face in windy conditions.
Gel-based pepper sprays reduce this risk but have a narrower stream that requires more accurate aim under stress.
Expiration:
Defensive spray canisters lose pressure over time. Most are meant to be replaced every two to four years.
If you carry one in your bag or vehicle, mark the expiration date and replace it before it runs out.
Regulatory restrictions:
Pepper spray laws vary by state.
Some states limit canister size, spray concentration, or require a permit.
Bear spray is regulated as a pesticide by the EPA and intended solely for use against bears.
Know your local laws before you carry.
If you are considering which spray to carry, these are some solid options:
SABRE Red Pepper Spray — compact, clips to a keychain, fires up to twelve feet with 1.33 percent Major Capsaicinoids.
SABRE Frontiersman Bear Spray — Two percent Major Capsaicinoids, fires up to thirty-five feet, designed for grizzly country.
UDAP Bear Spray — delivers a potent, EPA-approved formula to deter aggressive bears.
Byrna SD Launcher — a non-lethal launcher that fires pepper projectiles at sixty feet.
Worth considering if you want range beyond what a canister can deliver.
Keep in mind that Shayne survived because he carried the right spray, and kept it in his hands.
If you spend any amount of time outdoors — hiking, camping, hunting, or just walking your property at night — a quality defensive spray should be part of your kit.
But carrying the right spray is not enough if you cannot reach it when a threat is closing in.
You need a bag that keeps your gear organized and within arm’s reach.
