LAKE TAHOE, July 11 — 25 to 30 feet. That is the effective range of a can of bear spray, and it was the only distance between Cortlandt Koerwitz and a charging bear on July 4. The bottom line: The spray worked.
Koerwitz, a father in the Lake Tahoe area, deployed the canister as the bear rushed toward him while his family prepared for a boat trip. The incident, captured on video, shows the bear breaking off its charge after being hit with the cloud of capsaicin.
By the numbers, the figure that matters is the chemical itself. Bear spray contains capsaicin, a chemical that irritates mucous membranes and causes temporary incapacitation. The product is designed for close-range use — typically 25 to 30 feet — making quick access critical.
Koerwitz kept his can by the garage door. That decision, he noted, was key.
The spray worked, but the cloud also affected him, a reminder that the product is a non-selective irritant. Wildlife agencies, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, recommend bear spray as a primary defense tool. This incident provides a real-world example of its proper use.
The Chemistry of Deterrence
Capsaicin is a potent irritant for mammals and produces a sensation of burning in any tissue with which it comes into contact. In a bear, the effect is immediate: eyes water, breathing becomes difficult, and the animal is temporarily blinded. The incapacitation lasts long enough for a person to retreat to safety.
Investors will note that the bear-spray market has grown steadily as more people recreate in bear habitat. The product is designed for use at close range, typically 25 to 30 feet.
The canister Koerwitz used met those standards, and the result was a non-lethal resolution that minimized harm to both humans and wildlife.
Real-World Application
The July 4 incident is not a lab test. It is a field demonstration of what wildlife agencies have been telling the public for years: Bear spray works when carried and deployed correctly. Koerwitz had the spray accessible, recognized the threat, and used the product at the appropriate distance.
The takeaway for anyone in bear country is straightforward. Keep the spray where you can grab it quickly.
Know the effective range. Understand that the cloud will affect you, too. And trust that the capsaicin will do its job.
What to watch next: More video evidence of bear-spray effectiveness could shift public opinion away from lethal deterrents. Wildlife agencies are likely to point to the Lake Tahoe incident as a teaching tool.
For now, the numbers speak for themselves: one charging bear, one can of spray, zero injuries.
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