I already own bear (pepper) spray and will be backpacking in some areas known to bears.
Does anyone know how to ship this product? It is not permitted in your luggage on the plane and UPS will not ship because it is a hazardous material. My plan is to ship it to the motel where we are spending the first night.

I can't think of any other way to get it there. Would it be cheaper to buy it there? I'm sure you know that most experienced hikers consider bear spray pointless, that a bell or whistle is better because the idea is to warn the bear you're coming so it can stay away, which the vast majority of bears will do. But if the spray makes you feel better, by all means, bring it along.

If you write these folks, they can probably give you accurate advice: [email protected]

Sorry, just realized my "just bring it along" is dumb given that you can't, nor will UPS ship it. I'm sure the post office won't either, unless you lie and don't declare what it is--not recommended! Really, are you positive you need it?

You could take some bells and wear them instead. I thought wearing bells and having pepper spray were about the same in terms of being useless.

I believe it's a well known fact that you can recognize bear scat because it has little bells in it and smells like pepper spray.

We were told by WL&F in Valdez, Alaska, that the brown bear (coastal grizzly) was not even fazed by bear spray.

If you need the spray, it's undoubtedly sold in the area if that's what they really use to repel them (?).

I've never heard of anyone actually using the spray, but I've known a lot of people who have bought it, like me. Left the spray in our cabin when we left. I've also bought the bell. It makes a nice Christmas ornament in memory of our trip.

I hike in Glacier Park often and though I never had to use it I carry it faithfully as do all my hiking companions. It is a proven effective way to ward off an attack.
Of course singing and clapping hands in blind spot areas will warn the griz you are there and they will HOPEFULLY be frightened away. But should you be charged, spray is the thing.
I'm sure wherever you are hiking you'll find it for sale.

Bells around here are known as Grizzly dinner bells.

Huge--really huge--diff between brown and black bears, for sure!

The thing about the bell, and the clapping and the singing, is you don't really know how effective it is, given that not seeing a bear is kind of the whole point.

I wonder if I'd have the wherewithal to actually use pepper spray on a charging grizzly, given how busy I'd be screaming, crying and wetting myself.

NEBBE
I've always wondered the same thing!!!

When we were in AK pepper spray and a .450 Marlin was always nice to take along on a hike.....no bells

Why no bells? They're the first line of defense.

Maybe that's it . . . you string bells all around the perimeter of the trail so your "first line of defense" warns you the minute the bear charges you!

And then you can begin the wetting, screaming, running, and spraying yourself in the face with pepper spray! ;-)

haven't run into a grizzley on the trail, (saw one on the way to the trail head and chose not to hike that particular trail it was in hope, alaska. )

my friend's dog was charged by a black bear while we were hiking, the bear saw us (because the dog came running to us) we started clapping and singing and the bear went up a tree rather than challenge us. i think that the noise worked a bit, but i think there was strength in numbers (3 of us and of course, the dog...)

i've never hiked with bells or spray when i see bear activity i reassess my hiking choices for the day. have only seen a bear close to the trail one other time in Banff. the bear was more interested in the late season berries along the river....

as others have said, any where you are hiking where there are bears someone will be selling the spray, buy it then rather than deal with the hassles of trying to byo.

I sang when we walked through the woods & scared away all the animals for miles around, nevva mind just the bears. Come to think of it, my husband ran off too.

In S. AZ, dealing with black bears, we were told that if all else fails, make yourself as big and as loud as possible, to make the bear think twice about messing with you. As for a grizzly, I doubt anything I could do would make much of an impression, although screaming, crying, wetting myself and running in circles spraying myself with pepper spray might amuse it before it eats me. Hey, would that make me an amuse-bouche??

I know it was not intended to be funny, (sorry Rob), but between NewBe and ckwald, this thread is keeping me in stitches.

I have also been close to black and grizzlies in the wild. The only true deterrent I have been told is saftey in numbers and good luck, hike with a few people.

I came upon a grizzly in the wild. My heart pounded so hard that I could see my shirt move. All that crap about how they're as afraid of you as you are of them is only true if you are not afraid of grizzlies. I never want to die on vacation, so I avoid them. If you decide to go, be certain that you can outrun your friends.