Raven’s Guide to Becoming a B.A.R.K. Ranger

June 17, 2019 /

I guess I should start by saying that, truly, Raven could have cared less about becoming a B.A.R.K. Ranger or adding a tag to her collar. But, as a very devout dog mom and National Park Geek, I felt it was 100% necessary – and exciting!

To be honest, I had never heard the term B.A.R.K. Ranger before. It was only through the National Park Service’s website during National Park Week that I even became aware.

I personally feel like the website does a very poor job of talking about it, so if you’re a fur momma like myself and want some new bling for your baby’s collar, here’s all you need to know;

dog with owners at Great Sand Dunes NPS — Raven’s first trip to Great Sand Dunes NPS in Colorado

What is a B.A.R.K Ranger?

Great question! The B.A.R.K. Ranger program was initially started at Olympic National Park in Washington as a way to essentially teach pet owners good etiquette when visiting their park. Some park sites, like Glacier National Park, have an official Bark Ranger on duty. At Glacier NPS, Gracie the border collie helps keep the wildlife wild, showing visitors how to safely and respectfully view wildlife from a distance. Not all B.A.R.K. Rangers have to work on site at a National Park, though. Most simply earn their badge, and that’s it!

Raven’s first tag from Friendship Hill NHS

How does my dog become a B.A.R.K. Ranger?

It’s actually a lot easier than you would think, especially for the dog. It’s as simple as you, the owner, finding 8 piles of poop hidden in a picture. Literally. At the park office, ask the ranger about their B.A.R.K. Ranger program, and they’ll provide you with a quick pamphlet to fill out, teaching you the four basic principles to follow while you are in the park.

Bag your waste.
Always leash your pet.
Respect wildlife.
Know where you can go.

After you finish the packet, which literally takes probably 2 minutes, the ranger will hand you a card, signed by them, stating that your dog has completed the program and is an official B.A.R.K. Ranger, and most importantly – they’ll give you a badge that you can hang on their collar.

Do all National Parks offer this program?

Sadly, no. In fact, even by going to the National Park Website or individual park websites, it can be hard to tell which parks participate, and which don’t. The best way to know is to call ahead of time or ask at the park office. So far, Raven has earned her badge at Friendship Hill National Historic Site in Pennsylvania. She also got one at Monocacy National Battlefield in Maryland, only because they had some for sale, not because they offered the program. (weird, right?)

Sunrise at Clingman’s Dome in Great Smoky Mountain NPS

Whenever we go to national parks now with Raven, I check to see if they offer the program so we can add some more tags to her collar. (Each park gives a personalized tag, which makes them fun to collect.) Even if a park doesn’t offer it, it’s good to go in and ask about it anyways to bring awareness to the program in hopes that one day, they will adopt it as well! 🙂

Do you have a dog that deserves to be a B.A.R.K. Ranger? What are your thoughts on this program? Let us know below!