Bear spray: what is it and how it's being criminally used

Although bear spray is illegal to use on people, it has been sprayed at Nelson Mandela high school and the Genesis Centre recently

John Clarke knows what it’s like to be bear-sprayed.

Last year, the bear safety consultant was out on a trail near Canmore when a friend’s can of spray in a waist belt holster was accidentally triggered by a shifting backpack.

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“It sprayed me right in the face and that hurts, I didn’t like that,” said Clarke.

“It kept burning…I had water to decontaminate but it hurt for 15 to 20 minutes and later I wiped my face with my hand and ‘there it was again.'”

With that wary respect gained by experience, Clarke holds a dim view of those who use the agent against people, but fully understands why.

“It’s used (criminally) because it really works b