Hi, my name is Tyler Johnson — and last year, I survived a grizzly bear mauling.

That moment changed everything for me.

Instead of letting fear take over, I chose to create something that makes the outdoors safer for everyone. I grew up in Alaska, and the wilderness has always been my home. Now, as a father, my mission is to share that same love of the outdoors with my son — safely.

Over the past year, I’ve been building a new kind of wildlife-safety device called Sound Bear-ier. It’s a compact, wearable ultrasonic deterrent designed to alert animals (like bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, and more) before a surprise encounter ever happens. It’s built from research, from real-world experience, and from a deep belief that humans and wildlife can coexist safely.

I’ve invested everything I have into developing this technology.

I’ve built a pitch deck, partnered with researchers, connected with universities, and started working with engineers. Now I’m at the stage where I need a professional prototype — the final step before safety testing and production.

This fundraiser will help cover:

Creating the first fully functional professional prototype

Engineering, manufacturing, and testing costs

Materials and components for ultrasonic hardware

Initial wildlife-research testing with partnering organizations

My goal is simple:

Build a device that prevents attacks, saves lives, and protects both people and wildlife.

If you choose to support this project, you’re not just helping me — you’re helping build a safer future for every hiker, camper, hunter, family, and wildlife enthusiast out there.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for believing in what I’m building.

Together, we can make the outdoors safer for everyone.

— Tyler Johnson

Founder, Vardoger LLC

Creator of Sound Bear-ier