Don’t think you can handle a bear fight on your own? Not to worry—Russia’s novelty anti-bear repellent is about to hit the market.
Developed in Siberia, the Urals and west Siberia have faced a growing problem with bears attacking the community in recent years, The Siberian Times reports, with the product’s press release testifying to the notion: “We came to develop it because of the rapid increase in the bear population in western Siberia and Urals.”
The new repellent, Tyumen aerosols, aims to ward off the aggressive carnivores, reducing the number of attacks on people, from residents in rural communities, to walkers and campers.
‘The number of bears has risen due to a decrease in hunters’ activity,” said biologist Dr. Pavel Kosintev. “Bears are getting a lot braver and getting closer to people and are starting to feed off common rubbish places and even attacking people.”
While similar types of the product are already in use in countries like the United States, this is the first time a bear-focused product of its kind has been created in Russia. Manufactured by “Tyumen aerosols Ltd.” from the Tyumen Region, the product works by releasing a pungent pepper-based aroma, which animals diverge from. According to The Siberian Times, the spray will also work in fighting off wolves and foxes.
“This year we couldn’t finish an expedition on time because of bears getting right inside our camp. We had to leave the camp because no one was prepared to tempt fate and wait for them to attack,” said Dr. Kosintev, adding that, “Bears hate sharp scents, so the pepper spray should help frighten them.”
Animal Protection Department officials in Sverdlovsk announced there are now 4,063 brown bears in the Middle Urals, an increase of 12 from last year.
‘The annual increase is not huge, but it’s stable,” a spokesman said. “For the last four years there has been a favorable climate for bears and a significant decrease in hunting activity.”
The world saw its first ever bear repellent in 1992 when a U.S. man unexpectedly faced a grizzly and survived by using traditional pepper spray. Since then, the sprays marketed in the U.S. have been found to be up to 98 percent effective in fighting off bear attacks when used at a distance of at least 25 feet.
Moreover, each repellent, no matter where its made, has no fatal effects on the bears.
