When visiting Yellowstone, pack bear spray

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 4-30-19 | Vincent Del Giudice

[SJackson]

Grizzly bears are capable of running as fast as 40 mph.

Close encounters with hikers are a risk in the Yellowstone National Park area in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, and park rangers recommend packing protection akin to mace for Manhattan muggers — bear spray.

The grizzly population of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has more than tripled since 1987. About 150 call the park home. The bears were declared a "threatened species" in the lower 48 states in 1975. Grizzly relatives also reside in Alaska.

Non-lethal bear spray — carried in a cartridge resembling a small fire extinguisher — expels "a fine cloud of Capsicum derivatives to temporarily reduce a bear's ability to breath, see, and smell," according to the National Park Service.

That buys time for a quick escape from the agile beasts.

Grizzly bears are roughly 1 1/2 to 2 times larger than black bears, which also roam the area, according to the the park service. Grizzly males weigh between 200 and 700 pounds and females between 200 and 400 pounds.

Adult grizzly bears stand about 3 1/2 feet at the shoulder, can climb trees, run up and down hill, and swim.

[SJackson]

Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me to be on or off . And ping me is you see articles of interest.

That's fine, I've carried bear spray at Yellowstone. Along with other defensive measures. I wonder if the bears know they can't approach within 100 yards of humans. They'd laugh if they did since the humans would get the citation.

[Paladin2]

The “Buffalo” can get you too.

Much more likely.

They are not your friend.

The Elk can kill you too, especially if you run into one outstanding on the road.

[kaehurowing]

Grizzlies used to infest California. In the early 1800s parts of California (such as Napa Valley) were considered so dangerous because of grizzlies that gringos wouldn’t go in them.

[Paladin2]

I think one can “carry” in both the Montana and Wyoming parts of The Park.

[riverrunner]

Better yet carry a high quality firearm.

https://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2019/03/pistols-or-handguns-95-effective-when.html

Or both firearms are more effective against bears.

https://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2019/04/nine-cases-where-both-bear-spray-and.html

[Carriage Hill]

“Wife: There are killer bears out there on the trails, honey.

Hubby: I know.

Wife: Why are you putting on tennis shoes, while I’m wearing hiking boots?

Hubby: I only have to run faster than you, dear.”

[Paladin2]

"All methods of defense against bears have similar problems of access. A handgun or bear spray in a pack, or a rifle slung over the shoulder without a round in the chamber, should not be counted as a use of the method to defend against bears. All of the methods can be carried for easy access. It is not a fault of the method if the user did not have them available for use, or if the attack was too quick to allow use. "

Remind me to root out a .45-70 1894 ...., I suspect they work well on Mt. Lions too.

[blueunicorn6]

You know what the grizzlies in Yellowstone call motorcyclists?

Meals On Wheels

[SMGFan]

“That buys time for a quick escape from the agile beasts. “

Your actual time may vary.

[South Dakota]

The bulls are not to be approached but I’ve been very close to them and didn’t even know it.
I respect them but it not the bulls I fear.

It’s mama with baby that you need to give a wide berth.

[American in Israel]

Pack bear spray cause the Yellow Stone bears like their food spicy...

[Guenevere]

I was in Yellowstone late May several years ago......it never got above freezing!
Never saw a single bear....(maybe still hibernating)......saw plenty of bison/buffalo

[Williams]

Some years ago I walked a beautiful trail that went past a marsh, up along Lake Yellowstone, and back through a forest.

Sign said a grizzly bear sleeps in the woods and hunts the marsh at night.

Following year the bear chased a couple out of the woods, caught and killed the husband.

[KarlInOhio]

As the old punchline says:

It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear dung.

Black bear dung is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper."

[shelterguy]

I coat the bullets in my .44 mag with bear spray. That way it gets to the bear much faster.

[gandalftb]

You can now carry in every National Park.

Be careful driving there to keep weapons locked up.

Kimber .45 & bear spray & pay attention.

[gandalftb]

Oh, one other thing...don’t act or smell like food.

[SJackson]

Yes, the buffalo nail tourists every year. Elf too Videos abound. Of course those incidents are almost entirely tourist stupidity. Which most of the bear encounters are, but not all. Can’t imagine what buffalo spray would be made from.

[SJackson]

I think one can “carry” in both the Montana and Wyoming parts of The Park.

Of course you'll be dealing with illegal discharge, you can't shoot in any park, and establishing the threat necessitating your actions. Which is better than being dead.