Glacier National Parkbooks

Bear pepper spray is an essential in Glacier National Park. Not only should you carry a good can of bear spray, you should know how to use it. I have heard of people actually spraying with the nozzle pointed at themselves getting the spray right in their face.

Remember, if you ever do need it, you are not going to have a lot of time to read the directions or figure out how to get the safety pin off the trigger. Another thing to remember is to try to get in a position where the wind is not going to blow the pepper back at you. The pepper really does its job whether it hits the bear or comes back at you. So make sure it hits the bear in the face. I have had the wind blow the spray back into my breathing space and make it very hard to breathe.

Bear spray is not a replacement for good sense so always keep your distance from bears.

1. Be alert at all times.
2. Hiking with others is recommended but if hiking alone, staying close to another group could help.
3. If hiking alone make noise alerting bears to your presence. Banging your hiking stick on rocks or slapping your hand to your side sometimes work. Bear bells will not normally work and can be very irritating to other hikers.
4. Use caution when hiking alone especially going around blind corners.
5. If confronted by a bear try to judge the bears attitude similar to judging a dogs attitude. If he looks calm and just interested it is best to stay your ground and do not threaten him.
   1. If he looks angry and threatened like a dog with his ears laid back and teeth barred, you may be in trouble.
6. If all else fails and the bear attacks and you have bear pepper spray, be ready with the pepper spray.
   1. Spray into the bears eyes when in range of the spray. Spraying when the bear is more than 30ft away will normally be ineffective.
   2. Spraying into the wind could cause the spray to come back into your eyes and the air you breathe making things worse.