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Do I need bear spray in Yellowstone?

If you do any hiking or camping in Yellowstone, you SHOULD bring bear spray. Generally, you don't need bear spray when visiting the popular and crowded geyser areas and villages, such as Old Faithful and Canyon Village.



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Take an active role in protecting yourself and the bears people come to Yellowstone to see: carry bear spray and learn how to use it! Bear spray is a non-lethal deterrent designed to stop aggressive behavior in bears.

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Remember, always carry bear spray when hiking in Grand Teton, practice with inert cans often, and be bear aware! Stay safe out there and enjoy yourself while recreating responsibly in Grand Teton.

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Slowly back away. If a bear charges, stand your ground as running may lead to chasing. Most charges are bluffs.

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No bear spray allowed in Yosemite National Park Rangers from Yosemite say there just isn't a need for the spray. The park doesn't have grizzlies (the main reason someone would carry bear spray in the first place). Even though about 500 black bears do roam the park, Yosemite has never reported a bear-on-human attack.

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Bear Safety
  1. Keep at least 100 yards (93 m) from bears at all times and never approach a bear to take a photo.
  2. Never feed bears. ...
  3. If a bear approaches or touches your car, honk your horn and drive away to discourage this behavior.


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The average amount of bear attacks in Yellowstone is 1 per year. Yellowstone receives over 4 million visitors per year, so the odds of an attack are minuscule. In the entire history of the park, only 8 people have been killed in bear attacks, and many of these happened when feeding the bears was legal.

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We have the proper optics and equipment, so you can witness and film bears out in the field. Hands down the best time of year to see bears in Yellowstone is between mid-April and the first week of June.

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Grizzly bears are active primarily at dawn, dusk, and night. In spring, they may be seen around Yellowstone Lake, Fishing Bridge, Hayden and Lamar valleys, Swan Lake Flats, and the East Entrance.

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According to the National Park Service (NPS), eight people have been killed by bears at Yellowstone National Park since it was established in 1872.

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Remember, always carry bear spray when hiking in Grand Teton, practice with inert cans often, and be bear aware! Stay safe out there and enjoy yourself while recreating responsibly in Grand Teton.

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Solo hikers are at a higher risk of dangerous animal encounters. Anyone exploring the region's backcountry should do so with at least one other person, though groups of three or more are best. Accidents like sprained ankles can and do happen, and there are portions of Yellowstone with little or no cellular service.

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