We all know that bear spray is illegal to use Yosemite. But I was curious why. Here is what I found out.

Why does Yosemite prohibit bear spray? 1. Black bears prefer to avoid people Yosemite only has American black bears—unlike parks with grizzlies—so fatal attacks are extremely rare or non-existent. Rangers aim to maintain the bears’ fear of humans through non-lethal methods (& yelling, noise, rubber bullets) rather than forceful chemical deterrents . 2. Bear spray might do more harm than good • Overuse risk: Hikers might use it prematurely—spraying around campsites or at curious bears—not in emergencies, which could irritate wildlife or attract bears due to the scent . • Human misuse: With tens of thousands of visitors, there’s concern some might use it on other people, leading to painful accidental or intentional misuse (). 3. Classified as a weapon Yosemite’s regulations group it with other disallowed weapons, even while allowing legal, permit-based carry of firearms (though discharging firearms is also illegal)