Dogs are welcome at Glacier National Park but pet owners must keep them leashed at all times and dogs are only allowed in developed areas like frontcountry campgrounds and parking lots. Dogs are strictly prohibited on trails, in the backcountry and in any of Glacier’s buildings. These policies are in place for a variety of reasons including avoiding dogs interacting with the parks resident wildlife.
Even if you are abiding by all the rules regarding pets, wildlife encounters with dogs at Glacier National Park still happen like in this situation that happened at a parking lot. This Australian Shepherd tied up to its owner’s Volvo XC90 drew the attention of a passing Rock Mountain bighorn sheep ram which seemed amused by the canine but in no way intimidated.
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are the largest wild sheep in North America with males weighing in over 300 pounds and standings 3+ feet at the shoulder. They are well known for their headbutting behavior where rams battle with their horns (which can weigh up to 30 pounds) and clashing of skulls can be heard up to a mile away. While Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are generally not aggressive animals, they may react defensively if they feel threatened or cornered.
Luckily this ram did not perceive the Australian Sheppard as anything but a nuisance and moved along peacefully after a brief standoff. There is no telling what the consequences would have been if this situation had escalated and the ram decided to take a run at the dog. If you plan on bringing a dog to Glacier and see a bighorn sheep in the parking lot, it would be a good idea to get your dog into your vehicle and avoid encounters like this.
Glacier National Park Pet Policy:
Pets are members of our families, but there are some things you should be aware of before bringing your pet to the park.
- Pets are allowed in developed areas such as: in your cars while driving park roads, frontcountry campgrounds, picnic areas, along roads when you are stopped, in parking areas, and in boats on lakes where motorized watercraft are permitted.
- Pets are not permitted on trails, along lake shores outside of developed locations, in the backcountry, or in any building.
- Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet (1.8 m), under physical restraint, or caged at all times, including while in open-bed pickup trucks.
- Pets are not to be left tied to an object when unattended.
- Pet owners must pick up after their pets and dispose of waste in a trash receptacle.
- Owners must not allow a pet to make noise that is unreasonable. When the bike
- Path between Apgar and West Glacier is free of snow dogs are allowed on leash.
- When roads are closed to vehicle traffic, they are considered a backcountry trail and dogs are not allowed.
What can you do with your pet when you are hiking?
Do not leave your pet in a closed vehicle. If the air temperature outside is 80 degrees F, it will only take two minutes for the temperature inside your vehicle to reach over 94 degrees. Within an hour it can reach over 120 degrees F. Glacier National Park frequently sees days well in excess of 90 degrees, increasing those internal car temperatures dramatically.
Think about boarding your dog in a kennel for a day or two. A Google search turns up several options for boarding your pet, when you search on Flathead Valley Kennels.
Images from glaciernps