Is Bear Spray Better than a Gun? Here's What 352 Aggressive Bear Encounters Taught Us...

Adventurer and biologist Stephan Kesting looks at four studies and 352 aggressive bear encounters in Alaska to see whether bear spray or firearms was more effective at deterring aggressive black, grizzly and polar bear behaviour. The results may surprise you, but data doesn't care about your feelings! TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Introduction to bears spray vs guns 02:56 - Analysis of the first report, Bear Spray vs Bullets, Which Offers Better Protection, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 05:43 - Analysis of second report, Bear Spray or Bullets, by Lynn Dickerson 07:29 - Analysis of third report, Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska, by Smith et al. 15:19 Analysis of fourth report, Efficacy of Firearms for Bear Deterrence in Alaska, by Smith et al. 21:59 Summary and personal opinions SOURCES First study: Bear Spray vs Bullets, Which Offers Better Protection, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, https://above.nasa.gov/safety/documen... Second study: Bear Spray or Bullets, by Lynn Dickerson, http://www.centerforwildlifeinformati... Third study: Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska, by Smith et al, https://bearwise.org/wp-content/uploa... Fourth study: Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska, by Smith et al, https://westernwildlife.org/wp-conten... MORE OUTDOOR STUFF BY STEPHAN KESTING Please like this video and subscribe to my Essential Wilderness Youtube channel here:    / @essentialwilderness   Check out my Essential Wilderness site at https://www.essentialwilderness.com Follow my outdoors Instagram account at   / essentialwilderness   Thanks, Stephan Kesting P.S. If you're interested in the outdoors, please check out my book "Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic", which was a very challenging trip with LOTS of bears. More info at https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-D...