Is Yellowstone Pet Friendly?
Just getting back into RVing again. We will travel with our Pug, useless as he is. I know that some parks welcome dogs along trails and others don't want them. How is Yellowstone?
Forum Discussion
Yellowstone has rules for some very good reasons including the fact that you are in a wilderness area and the animals are wild and a cougar or bear might decide your “pet” looks mighty tasty.
Here’s another good reason. Back in July 1981, David Kirwan was driving through Yellowstone’s Fountain Paint Pot thermal area with his friend Ronald Ratliff and Ratliff’s dog Moosie. At about 1:00 P.M. they parked their truck to get out and take a closer look at the hot springs; Moosie escaped from the truck, ran towards nearby Celestine Pool (a thermal spring with a temperature at times of 200 degrees), jumped in, and began yelping.
Kirwan and Ratliff rushed over to the pool to aid the terrified dog, and Kirwan’s attitude indicated he was about to go into the spring after it. According to bystanders, several people tried to warn Kirwan off by yelling at him not to jump in, but he shouted “Like hell I won’t!” back at them, took two steps into the pool, and then dove head-first into the boiling spring.
Kirwan swam out to the dog and attempted to take it to shore; he then disappeared underwater, let go of the dog, and tried to climb out of the pool. Ratliff helped pull Kirwan out of the hot spring (resulting in second-degree burns to his own feet), and another visitor led Kirwan to the sidewalk as he reportedly muttered, “That was stupid. How bad am I? That was a stupid thing I did.”
Kirwan received 3rd degree burns over 100% of his body and died the next day. This is a true story and not an urban myth.
This is just one of the many ways people and animals can die in Yellowstone NP. It’s also one of the many reasons for the strict rules in Yellowstone. There is a book titled, Death in Yellowstone that is a great read before visiting the park.
Here’s another good reason. Back in July 1981, David Kirwan was driving through Yellowstone’s Fountain Paint Pot thermal area with his friend Ronald Ratliff and Ratliff’s dog Moosie. At about 1:00 P.M. they parked their truck to get out and take a closer look at the hot springs; Moosie escaped from the truck, ran towards nearby Celestine Pool (a thermal spring with a temperature at times of 200 degrees), jumped in, and began yelping.
Kirwan and Ratliff rushed over to the pool to aid the terrified dog, and Kirwan’s attitude indicated he was about to go into the spring after it. According to bystanders, several people tried to warn Kirwan off by yelling at him not to jump in, but he shouted “Like hell I won’t!” back at them, took two steps into the pool, and then dove head-first into the boiling spring.
Kirwan swam out to the dog and attempted to take it to shore; he then disappeared underwater, let go of the dog, and tried to climb out of the pool. Ratliff helped pull Kirwan out of the hot spring (resulting in second-degree burns to his own feet), and another visitor led Kirwan to the sidewalk as he reportedly muttered, “That was stupid. How bad am I? That was a stupid thing I did.”
Kirwan received 3rd degree burns over 100% of his body and died the next day. This is a true story and not an urban myth.
This is just one of the many ways people and animals can die in Yellowstone NP. It’s also one of the many reasons for the strict rules in Yellowstone. There is a book titled, Death in Yellowstone that is a great read before visiting the park.
