YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — A petite dog has earned its wilderness stripes after surviving on its own in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) for over a month.
According to multiple news outlets, Luna the 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier and Chihuahua mix was on a family vacation in the park when she went missing in the Canyon Village area. Since dogs are not allowed in most areas of YNP, Luna’s family secured the dog in their cabin accommodation with a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the handle before venturing out for sightseeing, according to the Associated Press. When a member of the housekeeping staff opened the door, Luna bolted.
According to social media posts by Montana-based Norris Ark Training and Recovery Center, the domestic animal rescue group that coordinated Luna’s retrieval, Luna was spotted numerous times around the park following her Sept. 10 escape, but the dog was “faster than lightning” and would not allow anyone to approach. As the weeks wore on, freezing temperatures became a concern for the dog’s survival, along with starvation, dehydration, and predation.
Once Luna had been spotted in the same area consistently, Norris Ark worked with the park to set up a trap. According to The New York Times, obtaining a permit to place a trap was a process that took about two weeks. The trap housed items that belonged to Luna’s owners and carried their scent, in place of food rewards that might have enticed predators.
Luna entered the trap and was reunited with her family on Wednesday. A trip to the vet concluded that she was “underweight, but … alert and in good spirits,” per the Associated Press.
Yellowstone has seen its share of domesticated animals surviving off the grid. Two horses are still missing within the park’s boundaries, including one from Teton Valley. One memorable incident saw a pack llama named Joaquin emerge relatively unscathed after two and a half weeks of roaming free in the park in 2023.
National parks restrict pet access for the safety of pets and wild animals. Yellowstone reminds pet owners of the following rules:
- Pets are only allowed in developed areas and must stay within 100 feet of roads, parking areas, and campgrounds.
- Pets must be physically controlled at all times: they must be in a car, in a crate, or on a leash no longer than six feet.
- Pets may not be left unattended or tied to objects.
- Pets are not allowed on boardwalks, hiking trails, in the backcountry, or in thermal areas. Carried pets (in arms, strollers, backpacks, carriers, etc.) are also not allowed in these areas.
- Pets may not be left in a situation where food, water, shade, ventilation, and other basic needs are inadequate. Pets may remain in vehicles for short periods of time, but YNP recommends that someone stay behind to personally ensure their well being.
- Owners must bag and dispose of pet waste.
