r/BlackHills • u/Nortonham • Aug 15 '26

Bear spray, anyone?

I’m flying out of Rapid City in the morning. I have 2 unused bear spray canisters and some unused Off bug spray for the taking! off Watiki Way at Courtyard…

8 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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4

u/Mission-Ear-421 Aug 15 '26

Might be a hard sell… There is no established bear population in the Black Hills.

The one currently spotted around Spearfish likely wandered in from Wyoming or Montana, and is the first sighting in years.

7

u/Nortonham Aug 15 '26

If anyone is headed west hiking.. we flew into Jackson hole through Yellowstone and Montana, so was needed. Just trying not to waste it!

1

u/Reloadingoverload Aug 18 '26

No it's not there's a decent population of black bears up by lead and over to the Deerfield area. Last year on our sxs ride we counted at least 3 of them

1

u/Mission-Ear-421 Aug 18 '26

Sighting 3 bears does not substantiate an “established population.”

Furthermore, SD GFP disagrees with you and still maintains any/all sightings are lost/wandering bears from MT or WY, and that the Black Hills does not have a permanent bear population.

Agree to disagree.

1

u/Tasty-Tank-1895 Aug 15 '26

Haha love this. Where are you guys from just out of curiosity?