The National Park Service is finding creative ways to engage dogs in National Parks and Monuments for staff, volunteers and visitors looking to explore the great outdoors and historic sites. with their best friend.
Take Gracie, an 8-year-old child Border Collie person to work with Mark BielDirector of the Natural Resources Program at Glacier . National Park in Montana. Gracie is a “ranger” who uses her natural herding skills to keep wildlife such as large sheep, deer and mountain goats a safe distance from visitors in areas of use as much as parking lots and campsites.
Gracie has helped keep wildlife at a safe distance from people in Montana’s Glacier National Park since 2016. Photo source: National Park Service / Alice W. Biel
More than just walking in the park
In National Parks, visitors sometimes see wildlife grazing and think the animals have been tamed and try to feed them or take a selfie, which is problematic for a number of reasons. .
“Wildlife is unpredictable — and dangerous,” Biel told The Dog People. “You can walk up to the animal and that’s when the animal decides to react, whether it kicks or bites or walks or tramples you. It’s a great way to get injured.”
Humans getting close to wild animals can also cause the animals to be killed. If a wild animal learns it has space, food, or some other benefit by acting aggressively toward humans, park officials must stamp it out.
Gracie uses her natural herding skills to keep wildlife such as large sheep, deer and mountain goats a safe distance from visitors.
So dogs like Gracie help keep people safe — and give Biel an opportunity to help educate the public about the importance of keeping wildlife. (The couple also visited schools and other groups to help spread the word.)
In the winter when deer gather on plowed roads, Gracie will herd them to avoid attracting predators like mountain lions to the park’s buildings — where families with young children and animals occasionally come and go.
“For the most part, people appreciate it,” Biel said. “They love seeing the innovation of using Gracie. They just think it’s really great.”
Gracie watches over an elderly ram at Glacier National Park in Montana. Image source: National Park Service / Alice W. Biel
The Call of the Wild
While Gracie and Biel are specially trained — “Don’t try this at home,” he warns — there are opportunities for the unprofessional at other parks and monuments. For example, Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland relied on volunteers Bark Ranger Trail Stewards — a team of friendly dogs and their humans — to help oversee and maintain more than 25 miles of trails over the years.
Their main job is to inform rangers about what they see on the trails and to model good park behavior, such as always tying their dogs on a leash, according to the report. Phillip S. Greenwalt, Head of Interpretation and Education at Catoctin Mountain Park.
At one park, the Bark Ranger Trail Stewards — a team of friendly dogs and their humans — help monitor and maintain more than 25 miles of trails.
“They go out and go hiking and tell us the conditions,” he told The Dog People. “It encourages good behavior in the park for both bipedal and quadrupedal visitors.”
They can also remind visitors to leash their dogs, pick up their poop with the motto “Leave only footprints” or ask them not to pick certain flowers. If they see fallen trees on the trail or other problems, they can report it to Greenwalt or someone on his staff so they can remove the impediment.
A Bark Ranger Trail Steward meets hikers at Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland. Photo provided by Catoctin Mountain Park
When pet owners are responsible — picking up manure, going to designated trails, staying away from wildlife, and using a leash — it helps keep parks like Catoctin pet-friendly. . Greenwalt said volunteers at a local animal rescue organization walk adopted dogs in the park to show how docile dogs can be and hopefully help them find a permanent home. far.
One visitor even took a chained rabbit there recently, much to Greenwalt’s surprise.
“It’s a new one. I’ve been working in the park for almost 15 years, and I’ve never seen someone walk a rabbit before,” he said. “But we’re, I guess, pet-friendly as long as they’re on a leash.”
When pet owners are responsible — picking up manure, keeping to designated trails, staying away from wildlife, and using a leash — it helps parks like Catoctin remain pet-friendly.
Volunteering with a pet dog can be a unique form of enrichment. A woman volunteering with a child German Shepherd to help him expend extra energy while her big dog rests at home.
Any dog breed or mix can volunteer as long as they pass the temperament assessment and appear more relaxed than nervous at the park.
Whether the dogs visit Catoctin as volunteers or tourists, Greenwalt hopes their handlers will spread the word about how the park is pet-friendly and free (even as a pet-friendly one). parking lot!).
“It’s an easier, cheaper way to get out and spend a day with the family and get everyone to be part of the family,” he said.
Rangers enjoy time with a volunteer Bark Ranger Trail Steward at Catoctin Mountain Park. Photo provided by Catoctin Mountain Park
The Bark Ranger Pledge
Increasingly, National Parks and Monuments have implemented a free Bark Ranger program for visiting dogs, which includes Olympic National Park in Washington State, Acadia National Park in Maine, Curecanti . National Recreation Area in Colorado, Biscayne National Park In Florida, Zion . National Park in Utah, Russell’s Cave National Monument in Alabama, Redwood National Park in California, Petersburg National Battlefield in Virginia, Pictures of Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan, and Tuzigoot National Monument in Arizona.
Basically, people who visit with dogs sign the pledge:
REMOVE – REMOVEis your pet’s feces
One – OneAlways wear a lanyard (usually no more than 6 feet)
CHEAP – CHEAPexpect wild animals
KY – KYwhere can you go now?
Some parks, such as Tuzigoot National Monument, also suggest an activity to do together. Upon completion, Bark Rangers will receive a signed certificate and a bandana or metal badge to wear on their collar.
The author’s Lab mix, Rio, showcases his Bark Ranger badge. He became a Bark Ranger at Arizona’s Montezuma Castle National Monument (a site in conjunction with Tuzigoot National Monument) in 2017. Photo by Jen Reeder
“It’s a really good, interactive way to get involved,” said Paul Santellan, Chief Interpreter at the park.
Santellan said starting the program more than 5 years ago makes a lot of sense because there are so many paved trails, and with Arizona’s heat, it will help keep people from leaving. dogs in the back in parked cars (super dangerous!). Plus, it’s a fun way to spend time with dogs.
Depending on the park’s specific Bark Ranger program, a registered dog may receive a signed certificate and a bandana or metal badge to wear on their collar.
“It’s a great program, and I think it’s growing. Dogs are becoming an important part of everyone’s life, and if we can accommodate that type of guest, it’s always a very interesting aspect to explore. “
Helping people connect with nature
Robbie Bond, 14, said the Bark Ranger program is attracting many dog lovers, including children. Kids Speak for Parks when he was just 9 years old.
“I work to encourage children not only to visit National Parks but to go out and protect them because I think children have the best voice to protect National Monuments because we will be by your side. them to enjoy them for the longest time”. he told The Dog People.
Robbie Bond, 14, plans to sign up Goldendoodle, Pippa, 1, as a Bark Ranger this month at Olympic National Park.
He plans to visit Olympic National Park this month with Pippa, his 1-year-old Goldendoodle, so she can become a Bark Ranger.
“She was really adventurous,” he said. “I am happy to take my dog to more parks.”
Robbie Bond and his Goldendoodle, Pippa, enjoy Sand Harbor together in Lake Tahoe State Park. Soon they will be visiting Olympic National Park in Washington so Pippa can become a Bark Ranger. Photo courtesy of Robbie Bond / Kids Speak for Parks
Bond will post photos of Pippa becoming the Bark Ranger on his social media pages in the hope that other young people will be excited about visiting our National Parks and Monuments with their own dogs. surname.
“I think kids will love bringing their pets, and I think that will only get more kids going into national parks,” he said. “I would like to encourage other kids to have responsible and Bark Ranger certified dogs for their dogs.”
Of course, that would benefit the dogs themselves. As Michelle Bond, Bond’s mother noted of Pippa: “She wanted to go everywhere.”
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