Saskatoon business charged with unlawfully selling bear spray

A Saskatoon business has been charged with unlawfully selling bear spray, under the City’s Business Licence Bylaw.

It comes after an investigation by the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) and City Community Standards Department.

The charges to the business, located in the 500 block of 20^th Street West, are the first since July 2025 changes to the Business Licence Bylaw surrounding the selling and recording rules of bear spray.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon/article/saskatoon-tightens-bear-spray-regulations-with-changes-to-business-license-bylaw/

The new rules are similar to those already in place at some sporting goods stores, and in other Canadian cities.

“Wildlife control products, commonly referred to as bear spray, are designed to repel wildlife through spraying pressurized liquid containing oil made from hot peppers,” the City of Saskatoon said in a release Tuesday. “It causes burning eyes, strained breathing and nasal and throat irritation.”

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The product is not intended for use on humans or in urban settings.

Those buying bear spray must be at least 18-years-old and show two pieces of government-issued ID.

There are also several rules a business must follow to sell bear spray.

The purchaser’s name, ID number, date of birth and address must be recorded by the business and made available to the City. The bear spray needs to be stored in a secure area, out of view of customers, and contain the manufacturer’s seal number.