Bear Spray

Tourists who purchase bear spray in Glacier National Park do so with the intention of fending off attacks by grizzly bears, There are 600-800 grizzly bears that live in the park and the wooded mountains that surround it. Bear spray is an aerosol concoction of extremely strong pepper dust that sticks to everything it hits.

According to park rangers, it is wise to carry bear spray if you know how to use it. Most of the bear spray that tourists buy is never used. A very small of bear spray is directed at grizzlies or their smaller cousins the black bears.

Here is what also happens with bear spray, say the park rangers. Or as I like to call it: You're the reason why there's a safety on the can.
Visitors to Glacier National Park have been known to:
Remove the safety, hold the can backward and squeeze the trigger to see if it works. It does.
Impress the girlfriend with  their quick draw, aiming the bear spray right at her and squeezing the trigger. That's when she discovers the safety is off.
Spray the outside of the tent. It's a deterrent, not a repellent. And it sticks to everything.
Spray the inside of the tent. Again, the powder sticks to everything and everyone.
Spray down the children to make them less appealing to bears. And considerably less happy. 
And lastly, spray the park ranger approaching from the other direction on the trail. While he is tall and sports a full beard, grizzlies don't wear a uniform.

Big Guy and I survived Glacier without bear spray. I hiked its trails slightly stressed, hollering and singing to avoid surprising bears. Big Guy walked with the smugness of knowing he can run faster than me. Next time, I will buy the bear spray. Fair warning, Big Guy--I know how to use it.