Appalachia Georgia Friends of the Bears

Fact: A person’s chance of incurring serious injury from a charging bear doubles when bullets are fired versus when bear pepper spray is used.  Those injured defending themselves with bear pepper spray experienced shorter attacks and less severe injuries than those who chose to use firearms (US Fish and Wildlife Service). Bears are actually attracted to pepper spray residue if it is sprayed on the ground or on objects. Never spray it around a tent or on yourself. When used defensively, pepper spray must be sprayed directly in the attacking bear’s eyes or nose.

On average, the lifespan of a black bear in the wild is 18 years, but the record is about 39 years.

Black bears predominately live in forests and feed on fruit, nuts, shoots and other vegetation.  The are only found in North America from Canada to Mexico.