By Ellie Boeschenstein EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Explore Big Sky got the chance to speak with Conner Clemens, Director of Retail at Outlaw Partners, to learn more about Hey Bear. Hey Bear is a bear safety and awareness brand that delivers apparel consisting of style, comfort and a little bit of fun—always with a nod to the bears who roam the surrounding wilderness in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
This series is part of a paid partnership with the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce. The following answers have been edited for brevity.
Explore Big Sky: First off, tell me about yourself. What brought you to Montana?
Conner Clemens: I’m Conner “Coco” Clemens! I grew up in Radnor, Pennsylvania, but always dreamed of heading out west after a lifetime of skiing and craving bigger mountains. After spending two-and-a-half-years in Boston, I got my chance in early 2021 when I accepted a job with Outlaw Partners. I made the move official with a cross-country road trip alongside my parents. I started off living in Bozeman, but in 2024, I finally settled into Big Sky—right where I always hoped to be.
EBS: Can you tell me how Hey Bear got its start and about Hey Bear’s mission?
CC: Hey Bear is an apparel and accessories brand that advocates for safe human and bear coexistence and gives back to wildlife organizations with wildlife safety awareness at their forefront. While on a hike in 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, the founder Eric Ladd was using the phrase, “Hey Bear” to deter wildlife. Ladd believed that the well-known phrase could be used on high quality products to promote better wildlife awareness. Today, Hey Bear does more than just give back, it is building an educational platform to promote the ideas about how we can better coexist with wildlife in our backyard. Bear populations are rapidly decreasing in the lower 48. The role bears play in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is key to the success of a nutrient-rich and biodiverse forest. Anyone who lives among these bruins knows it is a privilege to do so. At Hey Bear, we pride ourselves on selling quality, sustainable outdoor products with reputable partners. We are passionate about promoting symbiotic relationships with the natural world around us.
EBS: What inspired Hey Bear’s name and concept?
CC: “Hey Bear” is the phrase people commonly use when recreating in bear country—it’s a simple and memorable way to make noise and alert bears of your presence. The concept behind the name is rooted in safety; most bear encounters happen because a bear is surprised at close range. By announcing yourself with “Hey Bear,” you reduce the chances of a dangerous encounter. It’s a phrase that’s become both functional and iconic in outdoor culture, and it perfectly captures the spirit and mission behind our brand: promoting awareness, safety and respect for wildlife.
EBS: What are the main products and/or services Hey Bear offers?
CC: At Hey Bear, our mission begins with education and awareness, and ultimately leads to giving back—one of the core pillars of who we are. We proudly partner with Vital Ground, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and connecting critical grizzly bear habitats. Through product sales, we support their important work on the ground, helping expand safe landscapes for wildlife to roam. Our product line combines function, comfort, and purpose. We offer cozy apparel like sweatshirts, crewnecks, and t-shirts, along with our signature corduroy trucker hats that are both playful and stylish. Two of our most meaningful offerings are the Bear Spray Scat Belt—designed to keep your bear spray secure and accessible while on trail—and our children’s book “Hey Bear! Bear Shares Her Big Home.” This beautifully illustrated story follows Hey Bear through the mountains and rivers of Montana, introducing young readers and their families to the importance of coexisting with wildlife.
EBS: What should people know about bear spray and what are some common misconceptions people have about bear spray?
CC: Bear spray is a key tool while in the outdoors of bear country. Always have it on your person, know how to use bear spray and check trailheads for any bear activity. Bear spray is a life saving tool for you and the bear. Hey Bear strongly encourages all individuals that live, work or recreate in bear habitat to carry bear spray in an easily accessible way and to know how to use it. Even when carrying bear spray, still follow proper bear precautions. Bear spray is a very effective deterrent on bears when used properly. Bear spray is only effective when used as an airborne deterrent sprayed as a cloud at an aggressive animal.
Here are some tips on how to use bear spray:
1. DO NOT spray bear spray on any individual, it is not like bug spray. It should be only pointed at a bear and deployed when needed.
2. DO NOT forget your bear spray in bear country. A bear does not care who you are.
3. Learn how to hold the bear spray with two hands. Make sure you are comfortable so that it turns into a reaction.
4. When deploying, hold with two hands and start spraying low in a Z formation and work your way up.
5. When recreating, I always make noise. Talk loud, yell HEY BEAR! and listen to music out loud. The reason bear attacks happen is because you scare the bear since they did not hear you coming.
6. Bear spray is easier to deploy than a gun because if a bear is running at you it would be like a bouncing ball coming at you at full speed. With bear spray it covers a larger area so there is a higher chance of the bear running away.
A common misconception about bear spray is that it should be sprayed directly at a bear’s face from the start—but that’s not the most effective method. Instead, you should aim low and spray in a sweeping “Z” motion while gradually raising the can. This creates a wide cloud of spray that the bear will be covered in, ultimately covering its face and temporarily disabling its sense of smell—its most powerful tool.
EBS: How does Hey Bear give back to the Big Sky Community?
CC: Hey Bear is deeply rooted in the Big Sky community, and giving back is a core part of who we are. We proudly support and collaborate with local organizations like Big Sky Ccommunity Orginization to strengthen community ties and protect the wild spaces we all love. This summer, we’re excited to bring back our community forums in partnership with Vital Ground, our nonprofit conservation partner, to spark important conversations about wildlife coexistence and safety. Education is another key part of our mission—we regularly visit local schools and youth organizations to teach kids about bear safety, awareness, and how to responsibly live and play in bear country. It’s one of the most meaningful parts of what we do: helping the next generation become stewards of this wild place we call home.
EBS: Are there any local partnerships or collaborations you’re especially proud of?
CC: Absolutely—we’re especially proud of our partnership with our giveback partner, Vital Ground. Their mission aligns perfectly with ours: to protect and restore North America’s grizzly bear populations for future generations by conserving critical habitat and supporting programs that reduce conflicts between bears and humans.
How we give back:
Through the sale of Hey Bear products, we’re able to directly support Vital Ground’s mission and contribute to long-term conservation efforts. This includes helping restore grizzly bear populations, protecting key wildlife corridors, and funding educational outreach about bear safety.
EBS: What do you hope people take away from visiting Hey Bear?
CC: What we hope people take away from visiting Hey Bear is a deeper understanding of how lucky we are to share space with wildlife—and how important it is to protect that wilderness. Our mission is rooted in education and inspiration: Hey Bear is dedicated to raising awareness of bears through educational resources and retail products that inspire stewardship of bears and their habitat. We want people to walk away with more than just a cool shirt—we want them to feel connected to this place and empowered to help protect it. It’s about working together to keep the wild, wild. Montana is a truly special place, and now more than ever, it’s up to all of us to respect it, protect it, and make sure future generations can experience it, too.
