Bear Spray in Yellowstone: Rental or Purchase?
Are you considering a bear spray rental or purchase while visiting Yellowstone National Park?
This post will walk you through everything you need to know about finding, using, and storing bear spray while exploring one of Wyoming’s most incredible landscapes.
While we were visiting Yellowstone National Park and nearby Grand Teton National Park, we were excited to see the wildlife in this area.
This area of Wyoming has both grizzly bears and black bears, and it is important to be prepared in case you see one.
As we were traveling to this area from a part of the United States that doesn’t have either of these bears, we did research, spoke with park rangers, and read everything we could about how to keep us—and the wildlife—safe while hiking.
Below, you’ll find everything that we learned before and during our time at Yellowstone National Park about bears and bear spray, including where to rent bear spray, where to purchase it, when to use it, and how to properly use it.
Mama bear and cubs during the springtime in Yellowstone National Park
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Do I Need Bear Spray while Visiting Yellowstone National Park?
My dad carries his bear spray at the ready on his belt while hiking with our family near Canyon Rim and the Lower Falls
If you’re traveling to Wyoming for the first time from an area that doesn’t have grizzly bears, your first reaction might be, “Bear spray isn’t necessary.”
But then, you might rethink that idea when you begin to see bear spray rentals everywhere.
You’ll find signs for bear spray rentals and purchases from the moment you pick up your luggage at Jackson Hole airport to when you’re browsing the gift shops in the national park.
So, is the bear spray a necessity, or is everyone in this area trying to make a quick buck?
Ultimately, I’d strongly encourage you to rent or buy bear spray during your time in Yellowstone National Park as it’s always best to be prepared when exploring the outdoors.
Bear encounters at Yellowstone
Chances are that you won’t run into an aggressive grizzly bear at Yellowstone, but all it takes is one blind corner on a trail and you might be standing face to face with a mama bear and her cubs.
In that situation, you’ll feel confident that you are prepared just in case that mama decides that you look like a threat.
While it is the exception to most wildlife encounters, a woman was killed by a bear just outside of Yellowstone National Park in July 2023.
If an encounter goes badly, I’m not betting on me winning against a powerful bear that could be anywhere between 250 and 500 pounds, and can stand upwards of 8 feet tall.
Park Rangers and Bear Spray
You’ll notice that all of the rangers carry bear spray on them any time they are outside, even for short hikes on well travel trails.
PIN ME!
We asked several rangers about this habit while we were visiting Yellowstone, and every single ranger mentioned how he or she had seen a bear close to wherever we were having that conversation.
Bears roam all over Yellowstone from the Lower Boardwalk at Mud Cauldron to the parking lot at Grant Village.
These encounters aren’t simply limited to hikers on backcountry trails, and you could see a bear any time you’re in the park, even on highly trafficked easy hikes at Yellowstone National Park.
Since I’m always with my kids while hiking and exploring national parks, I am all for anything that will help us stay safe in these wild places.
Based on this information, we did have bear spray on us throughout our trip to Yellowstone, though (thankfully) we didn’t have to use it!
Get more tips for the perfect trip in our ultimate Yellowstone family vacation guide!
Where to Rent Bear Spray in Yellowstone
Inside of Yellowstone National Park, there are only 2 places to rent bear spray.
The first is near the Old Faithful Visitors Center.
If you’re standing in the parking lot next to the General Store in the Old Faithful area, you’ll see 2 light brown yurt-style tents between the back of the Old Faithful Visitors Center and the Old Faithful Lodge.
One of these yurts is where to get information about the Junior Ranger program, while the other is home to Bear Aware, the park’s bear spray rental concessionaire.
Inside the Bear Aware tent, you can pick up your spray rental, get tips on how to use it, and ask the employees any questions you might have about using or storing bear spray.
There are other drop-off locations in and near the park to make your exit easy. Check out the company’s map to note which areas are full service and which are only for dropping off canisters.
The second is next to the Canyon Village Educational Center.
The kiosk is on the sidewalk between the Educational Center and the exit onto Grand Loop Road.
The kiosk is the size of a small cabin, and you can’t miss it thanks to its signage.
The same company, Bear Aware, runs this kiosk as well, so you can pick up or drop off your bear spray here.
Pros and cons of renting bear spray
Renting bear spray eliminates the need to figure out what to do with the spray once you leave the park and this area.
However, you’ll have to consider where the drop off locations are in relation to your planned exit, so that you can make sure you’re not having to back track.
Another pro to renting bear spray is that the Bear Aware company will allow you to practice with an empty can before you leave their kiosks.
The longer rental times make sense if you’re planning to stay in the Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Jackson Hole area.
How much does bear spray cost to rent in Yellowstone?
From the park’s official vendor, Bear Aware, you can rent a can of bear spray for cheaper than you can purchase in general.
For a 1 or 2 day rental, you’ll pay $16, which breaks down to $16/ day for 1 day rental, or $8/day for a 2 day rental.
For a 3 day rental, you’ll pay $20, which breaks down to $6.66/per day.
For a 4 day rental, you’ll pay $24, which breaks down to $6/day.
For a 5 day rental, you’ll pay $28, which breaks down to $5.60/day.
The Bear Aware rental company also has an extended rental program, where rentals between 5-28 days are capped at $28.
This means that a 28 day rental would break down to just $1/day.
You can see bears just about anywhere in Yellowstone!
Where to Buy Bear Spray in Yellowstone
Most of the gift shops and visitors centers will have bear spray for sale inside the park.
This means that you have options throughout Yellowstone if you want to buy a canister or two during your trip.
We found bear spray canisters at Old Faithful Visitors Center in the Yellowstone Forever store, at the Mammoth Hot Springs convenience store, at the Fishing Bridge store, and at the Tower Falls gift shop.
If you’d like to purchase bear spray after you’re in the park, you can ask at any visitor center or ranger station on where the closest location is for you.
Where to Buy Bear Spray outside of Yellowstone National Park
If you’re flying into Jackson Hole airport, we suggest heading into Jackson, Wyoming for groceries and supplies.
You can find bear spray for purchase at the Albertson’s grocery store, REI, and Whole Foods in Jackson.
These canisters will run you about $50 each, and they come with a spray nozzle and safety latch already attached.
If you’re approaching Yellowstone National Park from the northeast entrance, you’ll come through Cooke City, Montana.
Stop by the Cooke City General Store to pick up a canister of bear spray. The pricing here is roughly what you’ll find in Jackson, Wyoming.
You can also purchase bear spray canisters on Amazon for a significantly lower price than you can buy it in or near Yellowstone National Park.
At the writing of this post, the bear spray on Amazon was about $15 cheaper than purchasing it in Wyoming, even though the canisters are nearly identical.
If you go this route and you are flying, be sure to contact your airline on their packing requirements.
Most do not allow you to place the canister in your carry-on bags in the situation that the canister goes off in the plane cabin. Many will not even allow it in the checked baggage area.
Pros and Cons of Purchasing Bear Spray
While the bear spray is more expensive to buy initially, it does provide more flexibility than renting bear spray at Yellowstone.
If you are planning to visit other areas outside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton, buying bear spray at your first destination is a better choice than renting.
For example, if you’re planning to go to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, and Glacier, you’re not going to be close to any of the drop off rental locations by the time you make it to Glacier.
Purchasing bear spray would be the best option here.
It’s also the best option if you’re planning on a longer stay of 4 weeks or more as the cost per day will hover around the $1/day price point once you hit 30 days.
Purchasing bear spray is more of a grab-and-go situation, so you’ll have to do more personal research on how to use it.
How much does bear spray cost to purchase in Yellowstone?
Depending on where you purchase your bear spray—and what time of year you’re purchasing it—you can expect to pay between $35 and $50.
This pricing is further affected by the size of spray that you’re buying, and if you’re purchasing 1 or 2 canisters.
Keep in mind that smaller canisters are easier to hold and store on your person, but they will hold less spray.
Bigger cans are more unwieldy, but provide several seconds of bear spray.
You’ll get a better price on packs of 2 canisters, which is helpful if you’re hiking in a group or plan to stay in grizzly bear country for an extended period of time.
Explore more in this area of Wyoming with these helpful posts:
Yellowstone Bear Spray Rentals and Purchase FAQs
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If you’re renting the bear spray, you’ll want to return it to the store or kiosk where you originally got it. Some companies have several drop-off stations, while others only have one. Make sure you’re aware of the drop-off station so you’re not backtracking in the park.
If you’ve purchased bear spray and you didn’t use it, consider paying it forward.
We ended up giving our unused canister to the valet at the hotel where we stayed the last night. As a local, he said that he was always in need of bear spray to take hiking.
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Most of the bear spray canisters come with a short information pamphlet, but there’s nothing like real life experience to make you feel confident.
There is a free ranger program at Mammoth Hot Springs that guides visitors through the process of safely using bear spray. In this program, a ranger will deploy a bear canister without the capsaicin to show you what it looks and feels like. You’ll also learn about how to hike safely in bear country, what to do if you see a bear, and what to look for in warning signs.
Ask at the Mammoth Hot Springs visitors center for details on the program schedule.
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You’ll always want to have your bear spray at the ready. This means keeping it clipped to your belt or backpack strap—not hidden away inside your backpack or in an outer pocket. You should be able to reach your spray without looking within 3 seconds.
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Bear spray canisters are shaped much like a standard bug spray can with the addition of small trigger.
If a bear advances towards you, you’ll want to have your bear spray at the ready, but don’t begin to spray it until the bear is about 30 feet from you.
Once the bear is close enough, you’ll pull the safety on the trigger, and hold the button on the top of the canister, making a figure-8 in the area in front of your waist.
You’re essentially making a wall of painful air that the bear will not want to go through—and if it does, that spray will cause the bear to pause long enough for your party to get out of harm’s way.
