Bear Aware, LLC, has been awarded a 10 year term concession contract as the Authorized Concessioner for bear spray rentals in Yellowstone National Park. Bear Aware had been providing rentals in the park since 2015 under a Commercial Use Authorization.

In August, 2018, the father of a family of four from Washington state rented bear spray from Bear Aware, LLC and used the spray to save his 10 year old son’s life. The family was hiking along the Divide Trail, southeast of Old Faithful when a grizzly bear charged out of the vegetation toward them. The boy tried to run away, but the bear chased him and knocked him down. The father deployed the spray into the bear’s face at which time the bear recoiled visibly and ran off. The boy suffered minimal injuries.

In a letter to Bear Aware, the father, Eric, attributed his ability to react in time to the training he received: “The question I return to his how I was able to deploy the spray effectively within a matter of seconds, with no warning or time to think. This I attribute directly to Bear Aware, and the care they took not to just market a product, but to prepare people to act if necessary....  When the bear crashed from the brush, I was not just a person with a can of pepper spray – I was prepared.”

“We are very proud of the educational aspect of our program, and knowing Eric relied on our training to save his son’s life makes all our hard work over the years worthwhile.” said Founder, Sally Vering. “It’s a great honor and privilege to be awarded the concessions contract, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the NPS over the next decade. We’re also very excited to expand our service to other locations within Yellowstone National Park and beyond.”

Bear Aware, LLC rents UDAP Pepper Power® 9.2 oz. Magnum Bear Spray at $9.50/Day (24 hours), $18.75/2 Days (48 hours), $28.00/Week (3 to 7 days), $32.00/WeekPlus (8 to 14 days) and also sells it for $49.99  The kiosk is located on the plaza of the Canyon Village Visitor Center and is open daily from 8 AM to 5:30 PM. There are seven additional convenient drop-off locations throughout the park.  Visitors may learn more about bear spray, how to properly use it, and view videos at their website, www.bearaware.com.

                        

For more information contact Sally Vering, Founder, Bear Aware, LLC, (406)224-5367 sally@bearaware.com, www.bearaware.com