It will be more difficult to sell bear spray in Manitoba in the New Year, but will that keep it out of the hands of criminals?

The Manitoba government hopes so, and is tightening the rules on how animal repellants are sold.

Stores that sell animal repellents like bear spray will soon need a license to sell the pepper spray.

Vendors like Wholesale Sports on St. James Street will have to keep products hidden or even under lock and key.

Retailers will also have to keep track of who's buying them.

The new legislation is in response to a rash of pepper spraying incidents in Manitoba.

Stephanie Strugar knows what it's like to be sprayed.

"I really thought I was going to die. I thought one or more breaths and I'm dead," said Strugar who was bear sprayed in downtown Winnipeg earlier this year.

Here's how the new rules work. First, businesses that sell Animal repellents will have to buy a $50 license to sell it.

The products must be locked-up so people can't easily steal it, and if you want to buy some you'll have to leave your name and particulars at the store.

"It will be more difficult to get pepper spray into the hands that want to misuse it," said Agriculture Minister Rosann Wowchuk.

Police have responded to over 700 illegal pepper spray calls in the last couple of years, including attacks on officers.

In June an officer was sprayed in the face while making an arrest.

"From 2006 to 2007 there was a 146 percent increase. Things aren't changing a whole lot for 2008," said Acting Deputy Police Chief Gord Schumacher.

As of January 2009, vendors will have to keep accurate sales records and hand them over to the government,

While it may seem like a lot of onus on businesses, vendors like Wholesale sports doesn't seem to mind. The store takes the issue seriously and is already following most the requirements.

"We won't be changing many things. It will just be a way for us to know there is some sort of regulation out there and to know that the papers and names we take in are actually going to have a purpose and it's actually going to be tracked," said Monica Hildebrand of Wholesale Sports.

For police it's another tool in the belt, and a little credit may need to go to students from Norquay School. A year ago they wrote a letter to the Province asking for action, saying they were tired of being bullied and pepper sprayed.

With a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley