This came up in a prior thread, linked above: Anyone seen the Myth Busters episode where they loaded a mini van with heaps of donuts, scented garbage, etc...
Brought in a bear and tried various deterrents placed around the mini van?
None worked... The bear always got to the treats, except
cayenne pepper. Things that make you go, "hmmm"...
The MythBusters try to drive a car from the passenger seat and switch seats with the driver. They also test various ways to repel cats, snakes, and bears.
mythresults.com
Cayenne pepper deters bears.
CONFIRMED
To the Build Team’s astonishment, the bear was so repulsed by the cayenne pepper that rather than go near the minivan, he found his way through the hot wire and tried to walk off into the woods before being corralled by his handler.
I brought up a friend who frequently hunts in bear country (The Bob) and he mentioned their party sprays the bushes surrounding the game that can not pack out on the first trek.
On occasion, they've seen tracks in the general area though none ever disturbed their meat.
After sharing this, Ben Long reached out to a friend within Counter Assault he received the same info as I had however, I was also told by both a bit more than Ben was informed (or shared).
1.) In my query with both Counter Assault and UDAP, both informed me no scientific testing has been conducted to confirm or deny bear spray on the bushes will deter therefore they err on the side of caution from sharing anything to suggest it may deter a bear. I asked if that was for liability sake and both companies shared absolutely... Certainly understandable.
Back to the Myth Busters episode... Interesting. Not something I've tried as I've been content with simply hoisting or, location dependant, leaving it in the shade or snow and returning with caution.
It's an interesting thought about the use of cayenne pepper.
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