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Police in Saskatoon say bear spray was discharged on a city bus over the weekend, leaving two female victims suffering the effects of the stinging spray.
According to police, officers were called to the bus at 22nd Street East and First Avenue North at around 8:25 p.m. on Saturday.
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“Arriving officers located two females suffering from the effects of bear spray; they were treated on scene by paramedics,” the Saskatoon Police Service said in a statement.
“Through continued investigation, officers learned the suspects fled the scene prior to police arrival.”
The police force said officers searched the surrounding area for the suspects, but came up empty.
Anyone with information on the incident was encouraged to contact police or make an anonymous report through Crime Stoppers.
What is bear spray?
Bear spray is a deterrent containing capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers. The canister releases a cone-shaped cloud of spray at a speed of over 100 km/h, approximately 10 m away. 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 the bear spray is to wash off the residue with soap and water, don’t rub your eyes or nose, and rinse your eyes with clean water until the irritation subsides. The effects generally wear off in about 45 minutes, the bear awareness site says.
Late in 2024, 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 to hide or disguise the product’s identity. Anyone charged under the new regulations could face fines of up to $100,000.
