A great question and if you are the type of person that is looking for a quick answer then the answer to this question is NO. This is according to the National Park Service. You are allowed to carry it for protection against wildlife. They do go on to state that it should never be used on people, obviously, and that if bear spray is used on an aggressive bear then you should immediately notify a ranger.
Now that you know the legalities of carrying bear spray we would argue that you should consider a self appointed permit before you decide to carry bear spray. What do I mean by this? Be responsible and be educated on the safe and proper use and storage of bear spray. While it is generally considered a non-lethal deterrent against an aggressive animal, like a bear, the improper use or storage of bear spray, however, could really ruin your day and it really should be treated and handled like a weapon. So with that being said, consider reviewing and adhering to the following points:
Review/Understand the Instructions on the Canister
This is an easy one that should be a no-brainer. Take 60 seconds, at a minimum, and review the instructions that are listed on the bear spray canister. These are straight from the manufacturer and will provide a quick overview of how their product works.
All of the canisters we rent will have this information on them and it is also linked from a “How to Use Bear Spray” message we send out with every rental.
Know Your Environment!
Spend a little extra time and know something about the environment you will be visiting. You are going to be carrying bear spray. Wouldn’t it be beneficial to know a little bit about bears? There are many resources online for this information as well as numerous rangers throughout the park who would love to tell you all about our bears. The best and most effective way to protect yourself from bears is to avoid situations where bears would become aggressive in their natural environment. You do this by getting to know them.
The “How to Use Bear Spray” message we include with every rental will include links to sites with great information about the bears that roam the Smokies.
Employ Common Sense!
A skill that is becoming somewhat rare in society but it won’t be with you as you are still reading this article. Kudos to you for taking the initiative and spending the time to be a responsible user/carrier of bear spray. You could have stopped at the first sentence when I answered the basic question but here we are. So what do I mean by common sense? It is simple things like keeping your bear spray secure and away from children. Common sense also means ensuring that the safety clip remains on your canister(s) unless you are actively considering deploying it. Another important item to consider is the outside temperature and how you store your canisters of bear spray. It can get somewhat warm here during the summer months and the inside temperature of a vehicle, if left in direct sunlight, can exceed the temperature rating (120 degrees Fahrenheit) of a canister. Be mindful of this. The final common sense item is to understand that bear spray is a deterrent and is not 100% effective. It can and will (if properly used) slant the odds significantly in your favor to survive a negative human/bear encounter but it isn’t a 100% guarantee to eliminate the risk. I am not stating this to scare or alarm anyone but it is the reality of dealing with wild animals and being outdoors.
Bonus Common Sense Item – This one is almost comical to bring up but it should be stated that bear spray is not a repellent. You don’t apply it to yourself before going out into the woods. If you read the instructions on the canister, however, you would already know this.
Have Fun and Play it Safe!
The Smokies, in addition to all of Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina, include some of the most spectacular beautiful places that have so much to explore and see. Bears are numerous along with other wild animals that are an integral part of this areas beauty and hopefully you will actually get to see bears and more wildlife while you are here. Play it safe, however, and carry bear spray while you are exploring. Be smart and know how to use it!
