On a recent trip to Revelstoke, British Columbia, my husband and I popped into a hardware store to purchase bear spray. Aside from our shock at the $51 (USD) price tag for an 8-ounce can, we were taken aback by the security measures required to purchase it.
Bear spray in Canada is not a grab-and-go purchase: The cashier pulled out a form that required name, address, the amount purchased, and a signed Notice to Purchase Agreement that contained a liability warning. The serial number from the spray—kept under lock and key—was included on the form, and we needed to show an ID prior to making the purchase.
If someone were to use the spray against a human, we learned, the serial number could be traced back to us. As a result, visitors are discouraged from passing on their canisters of bear spray to other users.
In the United States, purchasing bear spray does not require the same level of scrutiny—it’s as easy to buy as a box of granola bars. This makes passing on the canister to another hiker less onerous. However, other obstacles to safe disposal are as present in the U.S. as they are in Canada.
contains both a propellant and capsaicin, a concentrated form of the substance that makes chili peppers spicy. Considered hazardous waste, bear spray canisters can’t just be chucked in the trash, but require special disposal. The spray contributes to an ever-growing waste stream and poses a safety concern to landfill workers who could be injured from the toxic fumes.
At the end of our trip, as we drove to the Calgary airport in our rented car, the canister still lay on the floor next to my feet. I had done a quick Google search hoping to find a place to safely dispose of the toxic bear spray, but had been unsuccessful. And for obvious reasons, it couldn’t come home with us on the flight. I was at a loss.
An Increase in Use
While both the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada recommend doing everything possible to avoid bear encounters in the first place, they also recommend carrying spray when recreating in grizzly country to use as a final line of defense in the event of an attack. Grizzly bears are more likely to attack humans during an encounter than black bears, so carrying a deterrent in states where they live—Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, and Alaska—is particularly important. The spray protects both humans and bears, many of which are euthanized following an encounter.
Over time, the issue of properly disposing of bear spray waste is likely to grow. During the past five years, the number of American hiking enthusiasts increased 5.3 percent, while those camping increased 7.5 percent, said Kelly Davis, director of research at the Outdoor Industry Association. As interest in outdoor pursuits rises and the population continues to encroach on bear habitats, human-bear encounters may also increase. Likewise, the bear spray market is expected to expand, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Bear Spray Rentals
Bear spray is expensive, especially for a traveler who may not be able to bring it home for reuse. At an REI in Jackson, Wyoming, an 8.1-ounce canister (about 10 seconds worth of spray) costs $49.95 while a 10.2-ounce canister costs $54.95.
Most people who purchase bear spray will never actually use it, which spurred Montana resident Sally Vering to found in 2011. The company provides bear spray rentals in some U.S. National Parks beginning at $16 for one or two days.
Rentals do more than just saving travelers a few bucks. The service decreases the need for visitors to buy bear spray, keeping canisters out of circulation and landfills, said Patrick Collins, current owner of Bear Aware. The program runs over a dozen pick-up and drop-off locations around , Grand Teton National Park, and Jackson Hole.
Some parks in Canada also rent bear spray. At Canada’s Glacier National Park, visitors can rent a canister and holster for $15 (CAD) at two different locations. However, while visitors at a U.S. National Park can return used canisters, the same isn’t true with Parks Canada, according to Sierra Stinson, public relations and communications officer for Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks. Visitors who deploy their rented spray will need to find an alternative way to dispose of the canister.
Bear Spray Recycling
A group in Idaho’s grizzly country has focused on safe and environmentally friendly disposal. The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Wildlife Department, with the help of Idaho Fish and Game and the Idaho Panhandle National Forests/USDA Forest Service, have established drop-off sites for bear spray disposal in Northern Idaho.
A waste facility in Eastern Washington accepts the recycled canisters from the Kootenai Tribe. At the center, workers puncture the cans and extract the spray. They filter out the active ingredient, which can then be reused. Some of it is added to paint and used on boats to repel barnacles. The plastic and aluminum from the can itself is also recycled.
A handful of collection sites are available in Montana as well. This includes the REI in Bozeman and most of Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks regional offices. In addition, several National Parks including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier offer collection bins for the convenience of park visitors.
Plan Ahead
Back in Calgary, we ended up taking our chances and handing off the bear spray to the owner of our rental car, who was glad to have it. I later learned that the region does offer free, year-round disposal of hazardous material, including bear spray. However, this information was not easy to find, and the location was not convenient.
At best, bear spray rental and recycling programs keep toxic material out of landfills, more money in the wallets of outdoor enthusiasts, and humans and bears safe. However, the availability of these programs is not widespread and sometimes poorly promoted.
If traveling to bear country for an outdoor adventure, research local recycling centers and drop-off locations before you go. Armed with a little information, you can keep yourself, the bears, and the environment protected all at the same time.