Let’s start by discussing what you are not saying. You are not encouraging my 100 lb niece to spend a week in the high Sierras thinking a flashlight is all the protection she needs after dark. She is a naive city girl who might believe that is what you mean… you who pack a firearm. So I am not arguing with you as much as establishing relativity for others reading your vigorous theories.
Now, you are correct about persuading rats to move out of the attic. My results were the same for persuading deer to move out of my orchard and stop eating the young tree branches. Persuasion is not self defense. And experimenting led me to believe shining two lights on turbo was more effective than strobe, perhaps it reminded them of eyes or of a vehicle’s headlights (just a subjective guess). Ultimately, yelling while clapping my hands was more effective than using a flashlight, I think. But that was at a distance and deer are not aggressors.
Coyote packs often come as close as 30 paces. Strobe, verbal commands, and just ignoring them all result in them just passing by.
Realistically speaking, the only close encounter was a test on my German Shepherd, LOL. She had a quick reaction and then just continued to smell for scents. She looked back at me a couple of times, perhaps thinking this guy is a real pain. When she whined, I stopped. There was no reaction to indicate she was disabled by the strobe, just irritated. Others can try and we can compare results.
If someone armed with only a strobe came into your camp, grabbed your pack and ran off, would you be neutralized and unable to pursue them? No way!
So a strobe might be helpful for my niece for a momentary advantage to be used along with other methods, but is not sufficient alone. Please do not mislead her and others unless you have had close encounters with something like a bear or Sasquatch. I admit I have not, but will advise others on the side of safety.
There was a debate long ago on Candlepowerforums with some officers/military for and some against using strobe in a combat situation. One said, “Another former SEAL and tactical trainer, Jeff Gonzales, debated former SEAL trainer and handheld strobe inventor Ken Good on the merits of strobing on another forum. So, with some SEAL trainers and combat vets not sold on the merits of strobing versus the inventor’s same background, I’d say it’s a wash.” This is old news and new strobes might be better. So it is worth trying strobe if the need arises, but have a plan B.
