Here are some tips on Black Bears.
I knew a guy worked for the park service in Yellowstone and they used Ammonia and water equal parts to move bears out from under cabins. Be prepared because they can ruin your trip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHAG6pK5Lr0

Here are two articles that dispute your menstruating women comment.
Bears and menstruating women
Bear study

I've used the ammonia thing up on knife and we never saw a bear. We did see several around the lake but not in our camp.

I can't believe the you tube clip because it IS legal to cross into Canada with bear spray.

Just make sure you show the border agent your container. It must be marked as a bear spray. Personal protection mace is not permitted.

Always interesting when one guy starts alluding to one bear population and without data translates behavior to another population a thousand miles away.

If you want ammonia and water, you already have a supply. Pee around your campsite.

quote yellowcanoe: "I can't believe the you tube clip because it IS legal to cross into Canada with bear spray.

Just make sure you show the border agent your container. It must be marked as a bear spray. Personal protection mace is not permitted.

"

From what I understand, "yellowcanoe" is right. The Canadian Customs Officer will ask about pepper spray when going through Customs, but that only seems related to the spray used for personal defense. If the canister is properly labeled "Bear Spray", or something that indicates it's a Bear repellant, there shouldn't be an issue, as "yellowcanoe" stated.

One caveat though, if you are flying into your point of entry, canisters of bear spray are not allowed in the cabin of the Bush Plane. I don't know if it's allowable to strap them to the canoe on the exterior of the plane. But, it's against regulations to be in your pack, or anywhere else in the plane's cabin. I recently learned about this at a "Canoecopia" presentation by Kevin Callan & Cliff Jacobson.

Hans Solo

Have no idea if I am "right" but I travel with the darn cylinder over the border six times a year. I am not always asked about spray, and do not volunteer what is not asked. If I am asked I present the stuff. I have been carrying it for about five years and been asked maybe 15 times, so the answer for me is not very theoretical.

quote yellowcanoe: "Have no idea if I am "right" but I travel with the darn cylinder over the border six times a year. I am not always asked about spray, and do not volunteer what is not asked. If I am asked I present the stuff. I have been carrying it for about five years and been asked maybe 15 times, so the answer for me is not very theoretical."

From my understanding, and from what's been reported by others I know, it seems to be acceptable as long as it's marked accordingly.

Hans Solo

I like Yellow Canoe never volunteer information at the border if they ask, I tell. I purchased a can of Bear Spray in Ear Fall's Ontario.
When crossing back into the US they asked me if I purchased anything in Canada. I said a T-Shirt and a can of Bear Spray. He said "You didn't tell me that, get the hell out of here" and away I went. I took that to mean, you shouldn't do that?
SunCatcher

Hmmm, interesting response by the Customs Officer.

For what it's worth, I've cut and pasted information from udap.com's FAQ section below.

Question: Is UDAP Bear Deterrent from the United States allowed to cross the Canadian Border?

Answer: Yes. Hiker's are allowed to enter Canada (and re-enter the USA) with US EPA registered bear deterrents for their own use/protection against bear attacks. (The product must return to the US and cannot be sold or remain in Canada)

Bear Spray Information per udap.com FAQ

Despite the aforementioned information, it might be one of those arbitrary judgements by the Customs Officer on duty, regardless of the actual regulations.

As of yet, I have not purchased or packed "Bear Spray", so I have no personal experience with the regulations or applications of said product. My information is based solely on what has been reported by others or what I've learned per related Websites.

Hans Solo

Bears are part of the experience. Just be ready for the occasional young male bear that might be predatory on humans. Keep it clean.

I have had good luck with my dogs chasing bears out of camp. They never come back.

Bears are part of the experience. Just be ready for the occasional young male bear that might be predatory on humans. Keep it clean.

I have had good luck with my dogs chasing bears out of camp. They never come back.

Keep a clean camp, and store the food pack away from camp and you wont have any problems. Over 50 trips and never had a incident.

quote walllee: "Keep a clean camp, and store the food pack away from camp and you wont have any problems. Over 50 trips and never had a incident."

Until you run into a camp wise bear.

I had two bears in two differant camps with in minutes of hitting the shore at new to me sites. I think they were listening for the paddles and the canoes hitting the shore.

Never had problems before in the many trips in BWCA and other wilderness areas out west, Canada and AK.