Gift Ideas for Bear Lovers (and Hikers Heading Into Bear Country)
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Know someone who can't get enough of bears? Maybe they watch the bear webcams, collect anything with a bear on it, or spend every summer hiking in bear country. Here are gift ideas for every kind of bear fan.
For the cozy bear fan
- **A classic teddy bear.** The teddy bear has been around since 1902 and is named after President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. It's never really gone out of style.
- **Realistic plush bears.** If they love real bears more than cartoon ones, look for plush versions of specific species: grizzly, black bear, polar bear or panda.
- **A bear mug** for slow mornings. Bonus points if it looks a little grumpy before coffee.
- **Bear socks or a bear blanket** for hibernation season.
For readers
Books make great gifts for bear fans of any age. We put together a whole list: The Best Books About Bears, for Kids and Grown-Ups. A few favorites:
- For little kids: We're Going on a Bear Hunt or Bear Snores On
- For grown-ups who hike: Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance by bear biologist Stephen Herrero
For kids who love animals
- **A bear jigsaw puzzle** for rainy afternoons.
- **A bear field guide or animal encyclopedia** for curious kids who ask a hundred questions.
- A free game: Don't Poke the Bear! and the bear myth or fact quiz are both free and work on any phone. (Yes, we're a little biased.)
For hikers and campers in bear country
These are the gifts that might actually matter on the trail.
- **EPA-registered bear spray plus a holster**, so they can reach it in a second or two. Not sure what to look for? Read How to Choose Bear Spray.
- **A bear canister** for backpackers. Many parks require bear-resistant food storage. Our guide Bear Canisters vs. Bear Bags explains the options.
- **Binoculars** for watching wildlife from a safe distance. National parks like Yellowstone ask visitors to stay at least 100 yards (90 m) from bears, so good binoculars make a big difference.
Before you buy bear spray as a gift, check the expiration date, and remember that some airlines don't allow it in luggage, so it may be easier for the person to pick it up near where they'll hike.
For the bear watcher
- **A good pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens** for photographing bears from far away.
- A trip to see bears in the wild. Read Where to See Bears in the US, Safely for some of the best places.
- Fat Bear Week. Every fall, Katmai National Park in Alaska runs an online contest where people vote for the fattest brown bear. It's free, and it's a great gift idea in the form of "let's watch it together."
A gift for the bears themselves
Several wildlife organizations offer symbolic animal adoptions: you donate, and the person gets a certificate, photos or sometimes a plush toy. Pick a well-known conservation group you trust and check how the donation is used.
Personally, I'd like a quiet cave and nobody poking me. But a mug is nice too.