CAP News Online

Juneau Southeast Composite Squdaron

Alaska Wing

ALASKA -- The use of pepper spray isn't a normal aspect of Civil Air Patrol cadet training. But things are different in Alaska.

The state is home to more than 100,000 bears, and ground teams need some unusual training. U.S. Forest Service and Alaska Department of Fish & Game field staff routinely receive training in bear behavior and protection.  Even oil spill responders cleaning up shorelines have “bear guards” posted on beaches with active foraging bear populations. 

So it makes sense that CAP ground team members should also receive training in bear protection techniques.

That became apparent recently while the Juneau Southeast Composite Squadron was planning for a multi-agency cooperative field search and rescue exercise near a remote hydroelectric power facility at Snettisham, some 27 air miles southeast of Juneau. The cadets were assigned to act as lost hikers for the exercise scenario, in which they were to disappear into the area's thick brush. 

The Snettisham area includes an active salmon spawning stream that was full of the fish at this time of year -- and full, too, of the area’s local bears, who had gathered from miles around to fish the stream. With that in mind, the squadron decided to provide the cadets with training on the use of the bear deterrent pepper spray.

The bear deterrent used during the training was a standard civilian, red-pepper-based brand. Like wasp and hornet sprays, the pepper spray comes in a pressurized can and fans out from the can's nozzle in an ever-widening arc. The user needs only to point the can in the general direction of the bear and squeeze the trigger. 

All bear pepper sprays contain oleoresin capsicum (OC for short) -- the oily residue extracted from hot red peppers that naturally contains the active ingredient, capsaicin, that elicits an intense burning sensation.  The pepper sprays combine OC in its thick, red state with a carrier chemical that dilutes and thins it out. When capsaicin comes in contact with skin, its causes pain receptors to send the same impulses as those generated by burning heat. 

What really makes bear pepper spray an effective defense weapon, however, is the way it affects the mucous membranes -- primarily those of the eyes, nose and lungs. Capsaicin immediately causes these tissues to swell, resulting in nearly total, though temporary, loss of sight and severe restriction of breathing. To be optimally effective, bear pepper spray has to hit the animal's eyes and nose.

Maj. Jeff DeFreest leads a classroom session on bear deterrent spray.

The Juneau squadron training consisted two elements -- a classroom portion first, and then a practical demonstration giving cadets the opportunity to discharge bear spray and even, should they voluntarily choose to do so, experience mild exposure for themselves.   

During the classroom portion, Maj. Jeff DeFreest taught the cadets what bear spray is; how it works to repel bears; other, preferable alternatives for deterring bears; and the hazards of transporting the spray in an aircraft and how to mitigate these hazards. 

Special emphasis was given to explaining the importance of taking precautions when transporting these sprays, including transporting pepper spray outside the passenger compartment if possible, such as in the float compartment; and placing the spray in a protective case, such as rubber-gasket-sealed ammo boxes, or in heavy PVC cases, wrapped in several layers of cloth and secured from movement and with the safety pin secured in the “safe” position. The method of transport must contain an atomized mist in case the pepper spray is accidentally discharged