You are here

Home

All Recent Comments

Wolverine Photographed in Rocky Mountain National Park

Aug 5th - 00:25am | Milan Hanson

My son and I met a wolverine as we descended Bowen Gulch Trail in the Never Summer Wilderness just west of RMNP on Sunday, Aug 1, 2010. We didn't see a collar, but we didn't get a good head-on look because he was carrying a small animal in his mouth. When he saw us, he spun around and went quickly round a bend down the trail ahead of us. We weren't fast enough with the camera.

Reader Participation Day: Should Pets Be Given More Leeway in National Parks?

Aug 4th - 23:53pm | OnDaRoad

As a Full-time Rver, who both has worked in and regularly visits National Parks, leaving my dog 'at home' or in a kennel really isn't an option. Living in a National Park means your dog is restricted to walks on the campground roads. Luckily most parks have National Forest land nearby where your dog can run free.

Aug 4th - 21:30pm | Anonymous

Once in Yellowstone my then 10 year old asked me in a very calm voice why people bring dogs to the park. Her comment was overheard by a woman sitting under a tree with her dogs. She threatened to shoot my daughter for her questiion yelling that the dogs were her babies and if she had a gun she would use it!

Aug 4th - 16:45pm | Cornell

At first, I was going to say that the regulations should not be changed because there are too many irresponsible pet owners; but, then I remembered that if this rationalization were carried out to its logical conclusion, all humans would be banned because of the irresponsible behavior of some -- such as those who get too close to bison to get a better picture of it.

Aug 4th - 15:44pm | Anonymous

I just wish the rules would be enforced, whatever they may be. I have dogs and love to travel with them. Yet, often when we are going to visit a NP, we leave them at home in a kennel (and always come home to a pretty significant kennel bill). So, while I am missing my dogs and paying dearly for their care, I often find many people in NPs with their dogs and no concern whatsoever for the rule.

Aug 4th - 15:37pm | Anonymous

It is inappropriate for dogs to enter our national parks. The only non-human animals I want to see in the parks are those that live wild there. I don't know of any wild animal who welcomes a dog into his territory. The parks should be reserved for the animals who live there and the humans who appreciate there presence.

Aug 4th - 15:25pm | Ron Mastrogiuseppe

National Parks need special places for visitors to walk their pets since they often have been traveling long distances in warm vehicles. At Crater Lake, Sequoia and Redwood NP, while serving as either a volunteer interpreter or uniformed naturalist, I have found that pets provide an opportunity to meet very interesting people since all pet owners love talking

Aug 4th - 15:03pm | y_p_w

Karl: From a safety perspective I wouldn't want to see dogs allowed in bear country. This is a case where dogs and horses probably shouldn't be equated. I'm told a horse actually decreases your chance of a dangerous bear encounter while a dog will increase it.

Aug 4th - 13:53pm | heff

It is always interesting to see/hear dog owners claim that their dog(s) are well behaved, friendly, leashed, and always cleaned up after. As a walker, and frequent visitor to public parks and our wonderful National Parks, I must state that encountering any dog while on a path or trail is an uncomfortable experience. One, I'm sure, many dog owners cannot understand.

Aug 4th - 13:50pm | Anonymous

I love my dog, but don't travel with her. I think most dogs, even those who are well-behaved, are likely to bark at and frighten wildlife, so I would probably say "no" to dogs on most trails in the national parks. I did see two dogs on my recent trip to Sequoia, one was in a tote bag and the other in a pillow case! Both were at the General Sherman Tree and on the shuttle.

Aug 4th - 13:19pm | dustyboots

As a dog owner who formerly lived in a national park, and as a traveler who has visited many, many national parks, it amazes me the broad spectrum of dog acceptance within the NPS system. Petrified Forest NP allows dogs on trails, and I've had some of the most delightful walks there with my dogs. Grand Canyon, where I lived, has a rim trail on the South Rim that allows dogs, but nowhere else.

Aug 4th - 13:00pm | Cutter

Dogs on horse trails equals potential mishaps. Many dogs have never seen a horse and would get aggressive, defensive, barking, jumping around, etc. A long leash gets tangled around a horse's leg and somebody's not gonna feel so good!

Aug 4th - 12:12pm | Anonymous

I kinda like the "No Children" rule until they learn to behave.

Aug 4th - 12:07pm | yellowstone98

Can't we have one place in this entire country where there isn't dog crap to be stepped in? Chrissy Field. Hold the line! Enough said.

Aug 4th - 11:52am | Karl

From a safety perspective I wouldn't want to see dogs allowed in bear country. This is a case where dogs and horses probably shouldn't be equated. I'm told a horse actually decreases your chance of a dangerous bear encounter while a dog will increase it.

Aug 4th - 11:14am | Anonymous

While I understand this poster's frustration, I think that saying all dog owners must be responsible is harsh, unrealistic, and unfair. How about "until all drivers stop speeding we won't let anyone use cars". or "until everyone controls their children we won't allow children in the parks. I like the idea of allowing dogs some trails and not others, perhaps the trails that allow horses.

Aug 4th - 11:10am | y_p_w

I was going to make some snarky comment about "dogs on leases", as if they were being rented for a defined period. However - I'm in a good mood today.

Aug 4th - 10:31am | RangerLady

There was a woman in Shenandoah who asked if any pet was allowed as long as it was on a leash. When told it applied to all pets, out came her pet chicken on a leash!

Aug 4th - 10:26am | y_p_w

MikeD: As for wilderness, it seems to me that the leave no trace ethic applies even more so there, and so the "threat" of dog doo doo is even greater there.

Aug 4th - 10:26am | Fred Fagergren

Great item for discussion. I suspect the issue is largely about dogs on leases. Other pets are seldom on lease and trained.

Aug 4th - 10:11am | Kurt Repanshek

Sounds like a photo op to me, Julie!

Aug 4th - 10:03am | JulieS

A friend of mine who works at Grand Teton NP got a call at the visitor center from a woman who wanted to know if it was okay for her to bring her pet ducks to the park with her. She went on to say that they wear diapers when out in public. I wonder how people would feel about diaper-wearing ducks on trails?

Aug 4th - 09:57am | Tom V

Gila Cliff Dwellings has a shaded set of kennels behind the visitor contact station, staffed by volunteers, for visitors to leave their pets in a cool place while hiking the trail to the sites. Nice idea.

Aug 4th - 09:56am | Gaelyn

I too have been on both sides of the fence on this issue. Many summers ago I traveled with my dog and visited several National Parks. There were many trails I couldn't take because I just couldn't leave my dog in a hot car. Now I am a Park Ranger and I better understand why dogs aren't allowed on trails.

Aug 4th - 09:31am | ecbuck

Great topic Kurt ;) As I understand it, there are two major objections to dogs in the parks. 1) Dog poops 2) potential conflicts with animals/other users.

Aug 4th - 09:29am | Rangertoo

I think it depends upon the park. It is more than just loose dogs and public safety. Research shows that dogs engaged in scent marking can affect wildlife patterns. They also decrease the likelihood of viewing wildlife from trails where dogs are common because herbivores and prey animals tend to stay away from those areas.

Aug 4th - 09:27am | MikeD

Kurt,

Aug 4th - 09:18am | Jan

Absolutely NO to allowing dogs in our National Parks. We take numerous road trips to our National Parks and the very last thing I want to see is some irresponsible dog owner allowing his dog off leash to approach me and to leave ungodly messes on trails. I live in the foothills of Denver, Colorado and I am a hiker.

Aug 4th - 09:13am | MikeD

The most obvious issue is dogs going to the bathroom on/off trails. Most owners would surely be good about picking it up, but certainly not all.

Aug 4th - 09:05am | Anonymous

Working in a park and owning pets, I can see both sides of the issues. Half the dogs visiting the park are not well behaved and shouldn't be trusted near a cliff with a 1,000 ft drop. The other half are wonderful. Having worked in a NPS site that allowed dogs on leash, I would love to see all horse trails opened up to dog visitation as well.

Aug 4th - 08:48am | pkrnger

Kurt, you have introduced a reader participation topic that should be a major issue. It will be interesting to see if this article get's as much reader interest as did past articles on carrying hand guns in parks.

Aug 4th - 08:43am | Kevin M

I like the idea of allowing pets on those trails where horses are allowed. Pets are not going to do as much damage as horses, and it would allow some access to those with dogs. While those responding here (and many others) would exercise great control, there are too many who would not. I generally avoid trails where horses are allowed, so this compromise would not bother me.

Aug 4th - 08:30am | Anonymous

I travel often with my 2 Golden Retreivers. They are well behaved and more importantly their owner is respectful of other people and dogs they meet along the way. Because of the National Park rules I spend more time in National Forest areas. Colorado is a good example. I avoided Rocky Mtn. National Park but enjoy the surrounding areas (Monach Lake as an example has a nice 4 mile hike)

Easy Park Hikes- The Window View Trail at Big Bend National Park

Aug 4th - 22:23pm | Anonymous

Visited Big Bend for a week this spring for the first time. Window's View Trail was nice, but hiking out to the window itself was great. Don't know why I waited so long to visit this park. Will be back again soon--once the temperatures are lower. Another not to be missed experiences is a bird walk with Mark Flippo who knows birds better than anyone I have ever met.

One More Bear Put Down in Yellowstone National Park

Aug 4th - 17:32pm | y_p_w

Karl: I could be wrong about Yellowstone. I came up from Grand Teton so I already had my cannister. The backcountry offices asked if I had one so I assumed they were required, but maybe not.

Aug 4th - 15:47pm | Karl

I could be wrong about Yellowstone. I came up from Grand Teton so I already had my cannister. The backcountry offices asked if I had one so I assumed they were required, but maybe not.

Aug 4th - 15:37pm | Kurt Repanshek

I hadn't heard that about Yellowstone, though Grand Teton does have a canister rule for backcountry stays.

Aug 4th - 15:32pm | Anonymous

Karl: No more bear hangs, except in emergencies. Bear cannisters are required in Yellowstone backcountry (and most other bear populated US parks.) I ran into a black bear near a backcountry campsite there and the bear was completely unfazed by my presence. Walked straight towards me. I'm sure he would have happily ate my food if it was out.

Aug 4th - 11:23am | Karl

No more bear hangs, except in emergencies. Bear cannisters are required in Yellowstone backcountry (and most other bear populated US parks.) I ran into a black bear near a backcountry campsite there and the bear was completely unfazed by my presence. Walked straight towards me. I'm sure he would have happily ate my food if it was out.

Will Delaware Finally Get Its "National Park"?

Aug 4th - 16:21pm | Sheila Mensch

It has been common knowledge for years that Delaware has no national park. What amazed me when I looked at the NPS geographic search site was that it had nothing, nada- not an historic site , not a monument nothing.

Lodging in the Parks: Beware the St. Mary Lodge & Resort

Aug 4th - 15:43pm | jim

I had same kind of experience at Cedar Grove Lodge in Kings Canyon.It was like a skid row motel,dirty, noisy, lousy CSR's I could go on.

Aug 4th - 14:29pm | pkrnger

I have checked www.traveladvisor.com and have found the reviews, in general, to be consistent with the negative review given by Kurt on his recent visit. I'm surprised they can stay in business. I hope Kurt gets his money refunded.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site Offers Window Into the 19th Century

Aug 4th - 14:14pm | pkrnger

This great place is on my "to do" list for NPS visits. I've also heard from others that Ms. Meikle is an outstanding interpreter who is extremely knowledgeable about the history and significance of this NPS site.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hatchlings Released Into the Atlantic Ocean

Aug 4th - 12:50pm | Anonymous

Several folks from my office attended that release. It was indeed at Canaveral National Seashore.

Aug 4th - 10:55am | Kurt Repanshek

Fair enough. Here's a blurb from the July release of Kemp's ridley turtles from the Kennedy Space Center site:

Aug 4th - 10:41am | MRC

@Kurt: The press release does not specify whether the release site was within Merrit Island NWR or at Canaveral National Seashore. Both protected areas are on Merrit Island.

Aug 4th - 09:27am | Kurt Repanshek

Could Interior have gotten that point wrong? http://www.doi.gov/news/doinews/Sea-turtle-hatchlings-relocated-from-the...

Aug 4th - 09:16am | Anonymous

The release was actually at the Canaveral National Seashore beach.

National Park Quiz 85: Trees

Aug 4th - 10:36am | tomp

#8: Actually, not so much on the math; we're lazy, and after a long day in the field, we can be pretty brain-dead. Almost anybody measuring tree dbh uses either a Biltmore stick or a dbh tape.

Investigation Launched Into Grizzly Bear Mauling of Botanist Outside Yellowstone National Park

Aug 4th - 10:25am | Anonymous

THE RESEARCHERS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE BEAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT ALONE.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.