Bear Spray Incident in Dundonald on Sunday Afternoon

Another bear spray attack in Bridge City happened on Sunday afternoon.

Saskatoon Police Service were called to the 200 Block of Nesbitt Crescent around 4 p.m.

In a news release officers found a male and female who had the effects of bear spray.

“Two suspect vehicles followed the victims to Nesbitt Crescent before exiting the vehicles and discharging bear spray.” Police searched the area believing the suspects were headed northbound, but did not locate them.

Medical care was provided on scene by the Saskatoon Fire Department and Medavie Health Services West.

Officers believe “the victims and suspects are known to one another.”

Read More:

• Bear spray and stabbing incident in Pleasant Hill on Saturday
• Two women charged in latest Saskatoon bear spray incident
• Seven bear spray incidents in Saskatoon include two on city buses

Earlier this year, the provincial government announced new regulations aiming to reduce the number of criminal incidents involving bear spray.

The changes include regulations to restrict the possession of bear spray in public urban spaces, and a ban on altering bear spray in order to hide or disguise the product’s identity.

Anyone charged under the new regulations could face fines of up to $100,000.

Bear spray is a deterrent containing capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers. The canister releases a cone-shaped cloud of spray to a distance of approximately 10 m and at a speed of over 100 km/h. Capsaicin inflames the eyes and respiratory system of both animals and humans.

According to bearwise.org, the spray is oil-based, so first aid for bear spray is to wash off residue with soap and water, don’t rub your eyes or nose, and rinse your eyes with clean water until the irritation lessons. Effects generally wear off in about 45 minutes, the bear awareness site says.