Bear Spray

Last went to Yellowstone in '18. Saw a gentleman confuse himself with Rambo as he ventured out of the hotel at Mammoth Hot Springs to run across the street to the Post Office....bear spray in one hand, air horn in the other, looking both ways for bear. Knew he was looking both ways for bear because he almost ran into a bison. Sheesh!

If you're not hiking "off-trail", IMNSHO, even if you are, the best bear deterrent is in your head. Being bear aware is better than any other deterrent.

It's super convenient to get bear spray in the park or surrounding communities. I'd second the earlier suggestion...go to a nearby Costco, buy two containers and use one for practice. If you need bear spray, exceptionally unlikely, but if you do, you need to have tried it to know how to use it.

"Watching bison throw people 20 feet in the year may be a Montana form of entertainment, but I'm pretty sure it isn't pleasant for the human involved. But hey,"

It is entertainment in Southern California too.

Last I heard you could rent bear spray for one or multiple days from kiosks around the park. Might be a consideration if you're not needing it for more than a visit or two as it does expire.

PA12DRVR wrote:
If you need bear spray, exceptionally unlikely, but if you do, you need to have tried it to know how to use it.

Second that. If you are close enough to an aggressive bear to have to use it, you wanna do more than just p**s him off.

Buy quality. Stay safe!

you can also get a can of inert practice bear spray to learn how to use it without the pepper spray in the can. Just make sure you take the live one on your hike. :)
inert bear spray

I've been to Yellowstone a few times. Once I even saw a bear. The last time I went looking for bear but never saw one. Although I've never hiked miles off the main trails so probably the reason I have never seen one. I would say in Yellowstone unless you are planning some good hikes, you won't have a need for bear spray. The only bear I have seen is from the car.

We sent to Glacier this past summer and that is different, there is nothing to really see from the road so you have to get out and hike to enjoy the park. We bought the 2 pack at Costco before our trip, sold locally as well as in MT. Still have some that I will keep in our trailer just in case. But, didn't need it. There was a bear sighting on one of the trails we hiked but long gone by the time we got there. Barely saw any animals on the Glacier trip, just lots of squirrels.

Bear spray is a good idea, and you should know how to use it. But in Yellowstone I think it is only necessary if you plan to hike outside the main attractions and busy areas. I don't even recall if I have ever seen people carrying bear spray in Yellowstone unlike Glacier where many people carry it.

Forget bear bells.... the rangers laugh at the idea.

You should be more afraid of bison attacks than grizzlies in Yellowstone. Don't get close... they can move fast.

Bear spray can be rented in Yellowstone.

Here's a good article:

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/bearspray.htm

We worked Yellowstone/Canyon Village in 2011. That was the year with 2 fatalities 3 miles from us within a month or so apart.
Another day, a guy came in to buy replacement can as he had just used it on a bear.

Buy spray before you get in the Park. It will be more expensive inside Park.

This is our 3rd year at Grand Teton N.P. At Colter Bay. Talk about daily sightings of bears!!

Bear bells are a waste of $$. They are just not loud enough!! Just listen when you pass someone who wears them, how inaudible they really are!
If you don't want to spend the $ on bear spray, at least talk, sing, call out loudly as you are walking ANYWHERE there is a tree.
Bear spray works on angry Moose, angry elk, angry buffalo too...

We carry spray for hiking in bear country and motorhome security. :)