How And When To Use Bear Spray In Wyoming’s Bear Country

There's a lot of pressure on visitors coming to Wyoming because you never want to be the person who gets scolded online for your actions. When you're in the National Parks, all you hear is not to put your feet in the hydrothermal features, not to pet the fluffy cows, to stay away from the elk, not to take selfies with the wolves, and that bears are not cute and cuddly, so keep your distance.

That is a lot to remember.

So let's just focus on bears: what should you do if you encounter one? If your answer was to take out your phone and take pictures, that is not the correct answer.

The correct answer is to pay attention, have your bear spray handy, and follow the protocol you studied before entering bear country.

When you're in bear country, your bear spray should always be ready for use, and not tucked away at the bottom of your backpack, but keep it where it's easy to access if you need it.

The last part of that statement, "if you need it," is interesting, because how do you know when you do, in fact, "need it?" I'm glad you asked, and we're going to run through some scenarios to see whether you need to use your bear spray.

The National Park System has a great page on how to practice safety while you're in bear country. I suggest you study that page before you head into bear country, so that you can determine when, where, and how to deploy the spray.

Scenario 1: You're walking on a trail, and a bear walks out of the trees 1/4 mile away and doesn't acknowledge you're there.

Reaction: Do NOT deploy bear spray. Have it accessible, but you're just wasting it at that distance. Do not continue moving in the bear's direction. Talk loudly, make noise, and detour quietly.

Scenario 2: You're having lunch on a blanket in a meadow, and you spot a bear coming in your direction, but it isn't acting aggressively toward you.

Reaction: Don't run or make sudden moves. Pack up your food, talk loudly, make noise, and back out of the area. You should always have your bear spray handy and ready to use if the bear charges, but if the bear continues to move away from you, do NOT deploy bear spray; keep in mind that there's a bear around and stay vigilant.

Scenario 3: You're camping, and a bear wanders into your camp. It starts to act aggressively, swaying its head, huffing, clacking its teeth and jaws, lowering its head, and beginning to move quickly toward you.

Reaction: Have your bear spray in your hand and ready to deploy if necessary. If the bear doesn't show signs of stopping, remove the safety clip. Point the canister in the direction of the bear's feet, but don't deploy the spray until the bear is within about 30 feet. If it reaches 30 feet, deploy the spray, holding the trigger for a couple of seconds. If the bear continues, keep deploying the bear spray. Calmly leave the area. Don't run.

A bear can smell the odors from your food and other personal items, which can attract it to you. Always properly store those items in bear-resistant storage containers.

Remember the minimum viewing distances laid out by the National Parks:

• 100 yards for bears and wolves
• 25 yards for all other animals.

These distances help keep visitors and wildlife safe and apply whether you are on foot or inside your vehicle.

These are just minimums. Certain scenarios call for more space.

Mating grizzlies, for instance, are known to chase each other unpredictably. Female bears with cubs often become defensive when they perceive a threat. In these situations, giving animals additional room is essential for both safety and respect.

If your presence is causing the animal to run, stop foraging, or become agitated, you are too close. It is your responsibility to maintain these distances. If wildlife approach you, move away.