‘Bark Rangers’ Model Pet Behavior, Protect Wildlife, and Delight Visitors at National Parks

The National Park Service is finding innovative ways to involve dogs at National Parks and Monuments for employees, volunteers, and visitors who want to explore the great outdoors and historic sites with their best friend.

Take Gracie, an 8-year-old Border Collie who works alongside Mark Biel, Natural Resources Program Manager at Glacier National Park in Montana. Gracie is a “bark ranger” who uses her natural herding skills to keep wildlife like bighorn sheep, deer, and mountain goats a safe distance from visitors in high-use areas like parking lots and campgrounds.

More Than a Walk in the Park

At the National Parks, visitors sometimes see wildlife grazing and think the animals are tame and try to feed them or take a selfie, which is problematic for several reasons.

“Wildlife is unpredictable—and dangerous,” Biel told The Dog People. “You may walk up to the animal and that’s when the animal decides to react, whether it’s kicking or biting or goring or trampling you. It’s a great way to get injured.”

Humans approaching wildlife can also get the animal killed. If a wild animal learns that it gets space, food, or some other benefit by acting aggressively toward people, park officials have to put it down.

Gracie uses her natural herding skills to keep wildlife like bighorn sheep, deer, and mountain goats a safe distance from visitors.

So, dogs like Gracie help keep everyone safe—and give Biel an opportunity to help educate the public about the importance of keeping wildlife wild. (The pair also visit schools and other groups to help spread the word.)

In wintertime when deer congregate on plowed roads, Gracie shepherds them away to keep from attracting predators like mountain lions to park buildings—where families with small children and pets are sometimes visiting.

“For the most part, everyone appreciates it,” Biel said. “They like to see the innovation of using Gracie. They just think it’s really cool.”

The Call of the Wild

While Gracie and Biel are specially trained—“Don’t try this at home,” he cautioned—there are opportunities for non-pros at other parks and monuments. For instance, Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland has relied on volunteer Bark Ranger Trail Stewards—teams of friendly dogs and their humans—to help monitor and maintain over 25 miles of trails for years.

Their main job is to let staff rangers know what they see on the trails and to model good park behavior, like always having their dog on a leash, according to Phillip S. Greenwalt, Chief of Interpretation and Education at Catoctin Mountain Park.

At one park, Bark Ranger Trail Stewards—teams of friendly dogs and their humans—help monitor and maintain over 25 miles of trails.

“They come out and hike and let us know the conditions,” he told The Dog People. “It’s encouraged good park behavior for both two-legged and four-legged visitors.”

They might also remind visitors to keep dogs leashed, pick up their poop with the maxim “Leave only footprints,” or ask them not to pick certain flowers. If they see downed trees on the trail or other issues, they can report it to Greenwalt or someone on his staff so they can remove the impediment.

When pet owners are responsible—picking up poop, keeping to designated trails, steering clear of wildlife, and using a leash—it helps keep parks like Catoctin pet-friendly. Greenwalt said volunteers at a local animal rescue organization walk adoptable dogs in the park to show how well-mannered the dogs are and hopefully help them find a forever home.

One visitor even walked a leashed bunny there recently, to Greenwalt’s surprise.

“That’s a new one. I’ve been in the park service almost 15 years, and I’ve never seen someone walk a rabbit before,” he said. “But we are, I guess, pet-friendly as long as they’re on a leash.”

When pet owners are responsible—picking up poop, keeping to designated trails, steering clear of 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. One woman volunteers with her young German Shepherd to help him expend extra energy while her older dog rests at home.

Any dog breed or mix can volunteer so long as they pass a temperament evaluation and seem comfortable rather than anxious at the park.

Whether dogs visit Catoctin as volunteers or tourists, Greenwalt hopes their handlers spread the word about the park being pet-friendly and free (even parking!).

“It’s an easy, cheaper way to get outside and spend a family day and bring everybody that’s part of the family,” he said.

The Bark Ranger Pledge

Increasingly, National Parks and Monuments have implemented the free Bark Ranger program for dogs who visit, including 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 Cave National Monument in Alabama, Redwood National Park in California, Petersburg National Battlefield in Virginia, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan, and Tuzigoot National Monument in Arizona.

Essentially, people visiting with dogs sign a pledge to:

B – Bag your pet’s poop
A – Always wear a leash (typically no more than 6 feet)
R – Respect wildlife
K – Know where you can go

Some parks, such as Tuzigoot National Monument, also suggest an activity to do together. Once completed, the Bark Ranger gets a signed certificate and a bandana or metal badge to wear on their collar.

“It’s a really good interactive way to get involved,” said Paul Santellan, Lead Interpretive Park Ranger at the park.

Santellan said starting the program over five years ago made sense because so many trails are paved, and with Arizona’s heat, it would help prevent people from leaving dogs behind in parked cars (which is super dangerous!). Plus, it’s a fun way to spend time with dogs.

Depending on a 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 a big part of everyone’s life, and if we can accommodate that kind of visitor, it’s always a very fun aspect to explore.”

Helping Everyone Connect With Nature

The Bark Ranger program is appealing to a range of dog lovers, including kids, says Robbie Bond, 14. In 2017, he founded the nonprofit Kids Speak for Parks when he was just 9 years old.

“I work on encouraging kids to not only visit National Parks, but also get out and protect them because I think that kids have the best voice to speak up for National Monuments because we’re going to be around to enjoy them the longest,” he told The Dog People.

14-year-old Robbie Bond plans to register his 1-year-old Goldendoodle, Pippa, as a Bark Ranger this month at Olympic National Park.

He’s planning to visit Olympic National Park this month with Pippa, his 1-year-old Goldendoodle, so that she can become a Bark Ranger.

“She’s really adventurous,” he said. “I’m excited to bring my dog to more parks.”

Bond will post photos of Pippa becoming a Bark Ranger on his social media sites in the hopes that other young people will get excited about visiting our National Parks and Monuments with their own dogs.

“I think kids would love to bring their pets and I think it’ll only make more kids go into national parks,” he said. “I want to encourage other kids with dogs to be responsible and get their dogs Bark Ranger certified.”

Of course, that would benefit the dogs themselves. As Bond’s mom Michelle Bond noted about Pippa: “She wants to go everywhere.”

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