Bear Aware

Cool Hikes

Bear Aware — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 19:13:19 +0000

The crew over here at Bear Aware are excited for cool hikes in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks when they open! We’re equally excited for our two new locations in Bozeman and Teton Village to open as well!

We wanted to highlight at least one cool point of interest close to each of our locations! Maybe we’ll focus a little more on the less popular spots because, you know, everyone knows that the Old Faithful geyser is near our Old Faithful location, uh doh! Either way, we’ll do our best to provide some recommendations to less traveled yet epic sights or hikes! It’ll be a tall order but we’ll do our best.

Let’s start from our headquarters in Jackson, WY and work our way north to Bozeman!

Jackson:

Jackson, WY is where Bear Aware headquartered. Jackson is an old west town that is pretty much the hub of the Jackson Hole Valley. Not only are there restaurants, shopping opportunities, grocery stores, etc but seemingly endless adventure and cool hikes as well.

The Ski Lake Trail is a moderately difficult trail and is about 5 miles out and back. It’s not actually in Jackson but being on Teton Pass, it’s close enough. With open meadows, pines and aspens to trek through, you get some shade but also some killer views! Ending up at Ski Lake makes it a great hike for a hot summer day!

Ski Lake Trail

Teton Village:

Teton Village is a cool little place! With restaurants, stores, great views and equally cool hikes! Cody Bowl is a popular trail, we tried to showcase a lesser known trail BUT it’s hard in a place as popular as Teton Village. The Cody Bowl hike is a moderate trail and is about 3 miles round trip so it’s perfect for a quick trip up the mountain after picking up your bear spray rental in the Village! You’ll drop about 800ft into the boulder-filled Cody Bowl. it’s one of the last places snow melts in the Village so hike and a snowball fight?? Bear Aware location announcement coming SOON!!!

Cody Bowl

Old Faithful:

Another hard place to find a lesser known trail is Old faithful. Yellowstone National Park sees about 4 MILLION visitors each year. I’m willing to bet each of them will go see Old Faithful at some point on the Yellowstone excursion; however, how many of those are willing to hike up to Observation Point to watch the famous geyser erupt? Whos to say. Observation point is an easy, well-marked trail that’s only about ½ mile long. This out and back trail gives you the best perspective of Old Faithful eruptions because you can see just how high it goes with an almost aerial view! The Bear Aware Old Faithful Location is at yurts #1 near the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center!

Observation Point

Canyon Village:

Canyon Village is beautiful, it’s probably my favorite part of Yellowstone. There’s lots of cool hikes, killer views, and tons of wildlife! A very short drive from Canyon Village is Artist Point. Artist Point is beautiful and definitely worth a stroll but at the east side are a few trailheads. One of those trailheads is for Point Sublime. The trail is a fairly easy 2.6 mile out and back trail to the overlook of the South Rim.

In addition to Point Sublime, Ribbon Lake is nearby. Beautiful news, some Backcountry campsites, and links to other trails and POIs like Clear Creek, Wapiti Lake, and Surface Creek. The Bear Aware Canyon Village Location is the kiosk next to the Visitor Center!

Point Sublime

West Yellowstone:

Right near downtown and almost right across the street from our West Yellowstone location at Free Heel and Wheel is the Riverside Ski Trail. The upriver and downriver loop is just less than 8 miles and is easy. Enjoy a leisurely hike along the Madison River for serene, vast views of the river and the Gallatin Mountain Range. Then finish up with lunch or dinner at one of the many great eateries in West Yellowstone. Make sure you stop by Free Heel and Wheel to get your bear spray before embarking on this trek!

Riverside Ski Trail

Big Sky:

Near our newer Big Sky, MT Location is the Lava Lake Trail (also known as Cascade Creek). Lava Lake is a 6 mile (round-trip, out and back) rocky trail, which makes it a bit more challenging but still moderate. The trail follows Cascade Creek through thick pine forest, past a handful of waterfalls, and ends up at a beautiful lake lined by trees and rock walls. The treeless mountaintops in view around the lake make the trek up with it. This backcountry trail will definitely require carrying bear spray! Make sure you stop by Hey Bear to say HEY and rent bear spray before your hike!

Lava Lake Trail

Bozeman:

If you’re starting or ending your trip around Bozeman, MT, a great first or last hike is the Hood Creek Trail. It’s about 4 miles round-trip and moderately challenging. The trail follows Hood Creek and ends at the Hyalite reservoir, which makes it perfect for a summer hike. Take in the views, get some hiking in, and go for a dip in the chilly water on a hot day. Bear Aware location announcement coming SOON!!!

Hood Creek Trail

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Summer Is Getting Closer!

Bear Aware — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:08:04 +0000

Are you excited to explore around Yellowstone and the Tetons?! I know I am!

Bear Aware is here to sprinkle some magic on your wilderness escapades! And we’ve got some exciting news to share!

Bear-y Good News, ya might say:

We’ve expanded our pawprint into Bozeman, MT and Teton Village, WY! That’s right!! You asked, we listened! We’re excited about this expansion of our Bear Aware network for many reasons. Mainly because it provides the convenience for bear spray rental pickups and dropoffs you’ve asked about! More details on our Bozeman and Teton Village locations will be shared on our social media so make sure you’re following us!

Gone are the days of searching for bear spray before your adventure. With pickup/dropoff locations all over the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and now in Bozeman and Teton Village, renting a can of bear spray is as easy as can be, especially with many 24/7 dropoff locations in Yellowstone, Jackson, and Montana!

Just driving through? No worries! Chances are you’ll be passing one of our locations which means no backtracking, no detours, no hassle—just pure, unadulterated convenience so you can focus on why you came here in the first place!

Let’s face it, encountering a bear on your hike isn’t exactly what we’d call a picnic. With not only bear spray in hand but the knowledge and training we’ll give you when you rent your bear spray, you’ll be equipped to handle potential bear encounters like a champ. —just a little spritz and they’ll be thinking twice about crashing your party.

At Bear Aware, we’re not just about renting out bear spray; we’re all about promoting responsible outdoor fun as summer is getting closer. Our mission? Giving you peace of mind and keeping you safe while ensuring our furry friends keep their distance. It’s like a friendly game of tag—except the only thing chasing you is your sense of adventure!

So, as you gear up for your next outdoor escapade in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, don’t forget to pack your sense of adventure and your trusty bear spray from Bear Aware. With us in your corner, you can roam the wilderness with confidence, knowing you’re armed and ready for whatever wild wonders come your way.

Be Bear Aware, carry bear spray!

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Black Bears vs. Grizzly Bears – What’s the difference?

Paige Sullins — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 23:10:20 +0000

This time of year, the greater Yellowstone ecosystem is one of the best places in the world to view bears in their natural habitat. But it can be difficult to determine what kind of bear you’re looking at! Black bears and grizzly bears are both species of bears found in Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and other parts of North America. While they share some similarities, there are several key differences between them.

Here are some of the main distinctions between grizzlies and black bears:

1. Size: Grizzly bears are significantly larger than black bears. Adult male grizzlies can weigh between 400 and 1,000 pounds (180-450 kg) and stand about 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall when on their hind legs. Adult male black bears, on the other hand, generally weigh between 150 and 600 pounds (68-270 kg) and stand about 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall.

2. Physical Appearance: Black bears have a sleek and slender build with a small head and rounded ears. They have shorter claws compared to grizzlies. Their fur can range in color from black to brown, cinnamon, or even blond. Grizzly bears have a larger and more muscular body with a pronounced shoulder hump. They have a concave facial profile, long claws, and prominent shoulder muscles. Grizzly bears have a distinctive grizzled appearance, with fur that varies in color from light brown to dark brown, often with white-tipped guard hairs.

3. Range: Black bears have a wider distribution and can be found in various habitats across North America, including forests, swamps, and mountains. They are also found in parts of Mexico. Grizzly bears, also known as brown bears, are primarily found in the western and northwestern parts of North America, including Alaska, western Canada, and parts of the United States, such as Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.

4. Behavior: Black bears are generally more adaptable and less aggressive than grizzly bears. They are excellent climbers and often retreat to trees when threatened. Black bears are primarily omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of food, including berries, nuts, insects, small mammals, and carrion. Grizzly bears are more powerful and tend to have a more aggressive disposition. They are primarily omnivorous but have a more carnivorous diet than black bears. Grizzlies are known to hunt larger mammals, such as elk and moose, and they are more likely to scavenge for carrion.

5. Hibernation: Both black bears and grizzly bears undergo a period of hibernation during the winter months, but there are some differences in their hibernation patterns. Black bears tend to have a shorter hibernation period, typically lasting around 3-5 months. Grizzly bears, especially those in colder regions, may have a longer hibernation period of up to 6-8 months.

6. Conservation Status: Black bears have a more stable population and are listed as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, some localized populations of black bears, such as the Louisiana black bear, are listed as threatened. Grizzly bears, on the other hand, have a more vulnerable conservation status. They are listed as threatened or endangered in several regions due to habitat loss, hunting, and human-wildlife conflicts.

It’s important to note that these are general differences and there can be variations within each species.

The “cinnamon” colored black bear (pictured) can be spotted in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, but only a keen eye would recognize this guy as a black bear!

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History of Bear Feeding in Yellowstone National Park

Bear Aware — Wed, 17 May 2023 20:20:46 +0000

The history of bear feeding in Yellowstone National Park dates back to the early days of the park. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, visitors to the park would often feed bears in order to attract them for viewing and photography.

In the 1920s, the National Park Service began actively encouraging bear feeding as a way to attract visitors and generate revenue for the park. Feeding stations were set up throughout the park, and rangers would even bring food to bears in order to ensure their presence in certain areas.

Pictured: Yellowstone “Lunch Counter for Bears Only” in the 1930’s.

As the popularity of bear feeding grew, so did concerns about the impact on the bears and their natural behavior. Bears became increasingly habituated to humans and dependent on handouts, leading to a rise in aggressive behavior and dangerous interactions with park visitors.

In the 1960s, the National Park Service began to phase out bear feeding in Yellowstone, recognizing the negative impact it was having on the bears and the potential danger to visitors. Almost a decade later, in 1970 the practice was officially banned in the park. Since the 1960’s, the recorded number of negative encounters between humans and bears has dropped from 48 to 1 annually.

Since the ban on bear feeding, the park has worked to educate visitors on the importance of keeping a safe distance from bears and avoiding interactions that could lead to habituation or dangerous behavior. The park also employs a number of strategies to manage human-bear interactions, such as bear-resistant food storage containers, encouraging park visitors to carry bear spray, and establishing designated viewing areas where visitors can safely observe bears in their natural habitat.

Pictured: Yellowstone National Park’s first superintendent, Horace Albright, sharing a meal with three bears in the park.

Today, the park’s policies on bear feeding are strict, with heavy fines and penalties for visitors who intentionally feed bears or leave food or garbage out in areas where bears can access it. You can even serve time in jail for feeding bears and other wildlife. The goal is to ensure that bears in Yellowstone remain wild and self-sufficient, and that visitors can enjoy the park’s natural beauty and wildlife without putting themselves or the animals at risk.

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Do You Carry Bear Spray While Traveling In Grizzly Country?

Bear Aware — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 21:41:19 +0000

If you’ve spent any time in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, you know it’s a good idea to carry bear spray. But, because it’s not allowed on planes, many visitors find themselves with a dilemma: spend $50 on a can just to discard it during the airport’s security check, or hike without — a dangerous gamble.

The good news is, there’s another option: rent it from Bear Aware!. By reusing a product rather than buying it new, you’ll be making the more sustainable choice and keeping it out of the waste stream. And besides that it’s cost-effective — we set our rates so that renting bear spray is always cheaper, no matter how long you need it. Each can even comes with a holster, so you can keep it accessible at all times.

It might sound like a hassle to plan your trip around returning bear spray (say, if you want to start in one place and end somewhere hours away). But our broad network makes it easy to pick up bear spray almost anywhere in the region, and drop it off anywhere else, from the town of Jackson to every corner of Yellowstone National Park. Many of our locations have after-hours drop boxes, so you can stop by 24/7 to return. And if your travels take you to bear country farther afield, we also offer cans for purchase. Check out our website for more detailed information about each location.

Another advantage to renting or buying from Bear Aware: We won’t just throw you to the bears, armed with a weapon you don’t know how to use. It’s essential that you practice before taking bear spray into the field. You want the process to feel like second nature, so you can deploy it at a moment’s notice relying on muscle memory. Using empty training cans, we’ll show you how to hold the can, remove the safety mechanism, and aim properly to create an effective barrier between you and the bear. With the knowledge and training our experienced team provides, you’ll be prepared to keep yourself (and the local wildlife) safe.

For that matter, bear spray seems to be effective against just about any aggressive animal — bison, moose, mountain lions and more. George Hyde, the general manager at Counter Assault, a leading bear spray manufacturer, has said that “if it has eyes and lungs, people have sprayed it.” This works because the spray contains capsaicin, the same active ingredient as pepper spray, mixed with an accelerant to produce a broad mist. As soon as any creature gets a good whiff of it, they’ll suddenly be much more preoccupied with their own problems than with attacking you.

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