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Is bear spray a necessity in Yellowstone/GT for front-country hiking?

Is bear spray a necessity in Yellowstone/GT for front-country hiking?

Old Sep 12th, 2013, 09:48 AM
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Is bear spray a necessity in Yellowstone/GT for front-country hiking?

My DH are starting to pack for our trip to Yellowstone and GT next week. We are very excited to get outside and far away from NYC and do some hiking and see some gorgeous scenery. We went to REI last night to pick up a few things and had a discussion about the bear spray. I saw on the GT website that there's a bear alert currently. Is this something to be concerned about? We're not doing any serious overnight back-country hiking nor camping -- just day hiking trips in GT and Ystone (staying at Colter Bay, Mammoth, and OFI) We didn't buy the spray but are wondering if we should get it when we arrive in Jackson next Thursday evening? We do have bear bells from our trip to Denali a few years ago ....

thanks!
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 09:52 AM
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No in Grand Tetons. Yes in Yellowstone based on bear activity. Talk to a ranger and get their advice. If I had any concerns, I'd get it.
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 10:46 AM
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The Grand Teton alert says bears are active near roads and trails. You might want to pick some up just in case.

Lee Ann
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 11:01 AM
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I would have it but it also the last thing I would rely on. It is not a good idea to have a bear close enough that the spray is effective. This time of year bears are very activity and looking for food, any food, or anything that might smell like food, etc. They are on an eating binge so extra caution is needed compared to mid summer. The spray would have to be carried in checked luggage. Not allow as carry on.
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 11:06 AM
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Yes, Have it readily available in both Tetons and Yellowstone. This means don't pack it up in your backpack. Have it in a holster and ready to deploy. There are plenty of bears in both parks.
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 11:16 AM
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OK now you all are making me a tiny bit (or more) nervous. We of course will be carrying lunch with us on our day-hikes. Is this stupid at this time of year? Will bears smell our peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches and chocolate cookies? We knew we couldn't pack the spray in a carry-on but weren't sure if we could take it on a plane at all. Sounds like we definitely should get it. I'm sure buying it at the store in Jackson will be more expensive -- I'm assuming it will also be sold at the GT/Ystone visitors centers.
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 11:20 AM
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FWIW, this article says carry bear spray in bear country, period.
http://www.backpacker.com/february-m...survival/17302
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 12:04 PM
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Seems to make sense. the bear is much bigger, stronger and aster than any person. Barring carrying an elephant gun - and being a crack shot - I would use whatever you can find that is legal and they don;t like.

Caveat: The only place I have seen a bear outside a cage was on an exit of rte 80 in NJ. It was obviously a yearling (if that is the term - just dumped by a mother with a new cub. It simply sat - very stupidly, in the center of the exit ramp. I drove around it (at a distance) and called the cops. But a lot of people nearby get bears in their backyards - scary - less than an hour from Manhattan.
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 12:19 PM
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I didn't read all of the responses but don't buy bear spray before the trip.

You can't take it on the plane.

Buy it at or near the park.
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 12:28 PM
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You should read all of the responses then you will see that your advice has been given several times over.
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 12:34 PM
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.......Will bears smell our peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches and chocolate cookies? ......

Sure. If you encounter a bear that seems interested in you, throw your backpack with the food. That will occupy the bear long enough for you get some distance. Better the bear shreds the backpack than you. We are kind of making a joke of this BUT a lot of park bears have come to associate people with food. At this time year they are looking every where for food. Bear behavior in the fall is much different than summer or even spring when they may be protecting cubs. Just be alert. Remember you are in their territory. Respect it.
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 12:48 PM
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Just be alert. Remember you are in their territory. Respect it.

------

This, exactly. If I pay attention I can have a wonderful time and not have any trouble. Maybe I should do a little reading on what sort of bear behavior in the autumn we should be expecting.

Well then it's settled -- bear spray when we get to Yellowstone. We'll also bring the bear bells, and I'll rehearse my singing voice which would surely scare those bears away super-fast! ;-)

Thanks, all, you are invaluable. One week from today, can't wait to get there!
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 01:05 PM
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If the bears are active, then a definite "yes".
I've not been to GTNP but I'm very bear aware.
Follow the rangers' recommendations!
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 01:26 PM
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Really, throw a backpack full of food at the bear? Feeding bears is exactly what the park doesn't want. This ultimately leads to a bears death. Of course, better the backpack than you, but I would use spray before throwing a backpack at one.

Make noise, don't hike alone, carry bear spray. I have seen bears in Yellowstone, Alaska, Glacier, Tetons, Rocky Mountain, Smoky Mountain, Yosemite, Lassen, Shenandoah. The bears aren't really interested in you/us(normally). The main thing you want to avoid is startling one, waking one up that is taking a nap, or a mom with cubs. I'm a bit nervous, when in these areas myself, but you'll be fine. Enjoy it.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/bears.htm
Above is a link to Yellowstone National Parks suggestions
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 02:17 PM
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Bookmarking.
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 02:23 PM
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Duh. I've been to GTNP many times
Not when there were any bear warnings
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 03:05 PM
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For the love of god, please ignore fmpden's advice on this thread. Both of his posts are incorrect.

"The spray would have to be carried in checked luggage. Not allow as carry on."

TSA regs don't allow self-defense or pepper spray in containers larger than 4 ounces in checked bags. I don't believe anyone manufactures/sells bear spray in that small of a size, so you will have to buy it after you fly in.

"Sure. If you encounter a bear that seems interested in you, throw your backpack with the food. That will occupy the bear long enough for you get some distance. Better the bear shreds the backpack than you."

That is so incorrect and stupid that it's not even funny. The absolute only time you should throw your backpack at a bear is if you are actually attacked. And even then having a backpack on can help prevent more serious injury as it offers a little bit of protection and distraction - the bear will be chewing on that instead of your back. Otherwise, throwing a backpack just rewards the bear and helps to teach it that humans are walking grocery stores - thereby ensuring it will continue to approach humans and expect a food reward.

Please do read up on bears and what to do if you encounter one. There's a huge difference between grizzlies and black bears in terms of how you react to them and what to do if they attack.
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 03:38 PM
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"I'm sure buying it at the store in Jackson will be more expensive -- I'm assuming it will also be sold at the GT/Ystone visitors centers."

I would not assume it will be sold at visitor centers. Possibly/probably at a concessionaire general store in the park - but the safest thing to do is just buy it in Jackson so you have it with you before you enter the park.

Last thing - of course the bear can smell the food in your backpack. However, cookies and PB&J are not their normal food, especially not when carried on the back of a human. They are not roving around looking to eat anything and everything that looks like food, so don't go into this expecting that you are a walking buffet for them. Yellowstone averages one attack on humans a year, and I can guarantee that's not from a bear smelling food in someone's backpack while they're out hiking. Almost all attacks come from surprising a bear in close quarters, or getting between a sow and her cus), or campers or backpackers with food in the tent, or getting too close to a recent kill that a bear is feeding on.

http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/safety/bears.htm

Scroll almost all the way down to read about what to do if a bear seems interested in you.

Also read this:
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm...rs.bearcountry
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Old Sep 12th, 2013, 04:23 PM
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You are getting some good advice from WhereWeAre. Generally, the day trails in these parks are well used, so you will probably hear about a bear sighting (if there has been one) from someone headed back down, unless you are a really early riser. We have had to backtrack on trails twice in Yellowstone because of bear sightings further ahead by someone else. How we get around the "food with an odor" in backpack situation: eat a big breakfast and just carry trail bars/trail mix and plenty of water on the actual hike instead of trying to have a normal lunch in the woods. Then eat a big dinner that evening. Have a great time; it is beautiful in both parks.
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Old Sep 13th, 2013, 07:19 AM
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WhereAreWe, thank you so much for those links. Sounds like everyone is in agreement that I should get the bear spray, but now I know to get it at the Albertson's in Jackson when we arrive.

We'll be singing and clapping our hands while walking, and I'm thinking no bear is going to want to hang around for a billion verses of Old MacDonald. And we definitely know not to get between a mother bear and her cubs.

Thanks, all. Can't wait to get there.
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