Travelling with Bear Pepper Spray to Glacier National Park

by Perry Rosenbloom 3 Comments

I am trying to plan a Glacier National Park, Montana vacation in August. There will be three or four of us flying out from DC/Philly area.

No one in our group have backpacked in Grizzly Bear country before. Backpacking around here we do encounter black bears, so we always bear bag and take precautions.

We were planning on getting bear spray when we get out there, but my question is what do we do with the bear spray at the end of our trip?

It is my understanding we can’t fly with grizzly bear repellent in our checked gear.

Also, any suggestions about traveling with backpacking gear would be of great help.

Thank you and keep up the good work.

~ Brett

Answer:

Hi Brett,

Great question!

My belief is that you cannot fly with bear spray in your checked baggage.

Like you said, getting the bear repellent is the easily part–you can just purchase bear spray (or rent bear spray!) at any general store outside or inside Glacier National Park.

If you rent your bear spray, then you just return it at the end of your trip. Easiest solution.

Your other option is giving it to someone in need within Glacier. You’d be amazed at how many (foolish/uneducated) hikers there are that hike Glacier National Park without bear spray.

Maybe they don’t realize it, but by hiking without bear pepper spray in Glacier National Park, you are putting your life at risk. Grizzly bears are a real, dangerous threat.

So, here’s what you do: on your last hike in Glacier National Park, hand your bear spray off to someone in the parking lot that does not have bear spray. Easy, right?

Or, just rent it from a store outside of Glacier National Park (Kalispell is your best bet).

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Jul 04, 2012

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 Shipping Bear Spray

by: Anonymous

I don’t know about FedEx, but UPS told me yesterday that they are prohibited from shipping bear spray unless the shipper is a business and has a special contract with UPS that allows them to ship hazardous materials. This evidently includes special training of the shipper’s personnel and special packaging materials. They stated under US DOT rules it is illegal for individuals to ship hazardous materials via UPS, and lying about the contents of a shipment makes one subject to fines, imprisonment, etc. I hope USPS has no such rules, as the return of bear spray has been a problem for me as well. I’ll admit to having shipped via UPS before, but I’d prefer to follow all applicable laws and regulations.

Jul 19, 2011

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 Shipping Pepper Spray

by: Anonymous


Ship with the US Post Office…….Parcel Post. It must ship via ground, not air (no Priority Mail). Have it shipped to your hotel or campground (call ahead to let them know it’s coming) and ship it home when you are leaving.

ALSO……..carry a whistle when you are hiking. Around your neck with a lanyard, similar to the lifeguard at the pool. You always know where it is at. Good signal locater in case you twist an ankle or break a leg or just need help. Worth the small price. Good noisemaker against bears, also.
Jul 31, 2010

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 Where can we RENT the spray

by: Anonymous


Where exactly can we rent cans of the bear spray? And what is the cost? How does this compare to the cost of buying?
Jun 23, 2010

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 Shipping Bear Spray

by: Anonymous

We ship our bear spray to Montana and back home using Fed Ex.

Jun 15, 2010

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 Buying Bear Spray in Glacier National Park

by: Perry


Hi Anonymous,

I emailed the Polebridge Mercantile about your question and yes, they do sell bear spray there.

Definitely a great last resort or first option, as it’s always best to support local business, especially local Glacier business 🙂

Alternately, you can always
buy bear spray at REI, where it will likely be the cheapest.

~ Perry
Jun 13, 2010

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 where to buy?

by: Anonymous

where can you buy bear spray? can you buy it in Polebridge?
Feb 06, 2010

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 Mail it if you’re going to need it in future.

by: Buck


We used to donate it at the end of the trips but now we take a little extra time and mail it to the closest post office for pick up when we get to the park. We mail it home when we get out.It sounds much more complicated than it is. Really simple once you’ve done it. At 50$ a can well worth it if you are going to do multiple trips to grizz country. There is always a post office close by ( Many Glacier, Apgar, etc.)
Feb 06, 2010

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 What did you do with your bear spray at the end?

by: Perry


What did you do with your bear spray at the end of your Glacier National Park vacation?

Please share any ideas you have for other readers!

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Comments

  1. Pee says
    June 9, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    When I visited Yellowstone and Grand Teton I bought a can of bear spray.The day i was leaving Yellowstone I stop by Grant Village and gave my can of spray to a Park Ranger who giving a a group of hiker a safety talk about hiking in bear country.She was very happy and thank me for the donation.

    Reply
    • Perry Rosenbloom says
      June 9, 2013 at 3:02 pm

      Hi Pee,

      When we were in Yellowstone, a couple at the end of their backpacking trip gave us their can of spray so that my wife and I would each have one. Thankfully we didn’t need to use it 🙂

      Reply
  2. Howard sadler says
    May 24, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    I sent dried ghost chilies to my good friend. In denial I think once soaked in hot water and solution in spray bottle. This should work if it keeps elephants away I think the spicy smell a super hot. Taste should keep bears away and if you spray around your camp site the Bears should avoid

    Reply

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