Hiking with a pet in Joshua Tree National Park can be dangerous. Here’s Park Ranger Pam Tripp with some pet rules in the park…
Imagine hiking in the summer heat wearing a fur coat and hiking in bare feet. This scenario plays out all too often in Joshua Tree National Park, and unfortunately cost the life of a beloved pet in May. Visitors to the park illegally took their dog on a long trail in the Cottonwood area. The dog, unable to handle the heat of the day, collapsed and died, having to be carried out with the help of park personnel. Temperatures in the summer typically reach 100 degrees or more, even in the upper elevations of the park. This affects not just human, but our furry little friends as well. Please know the rules for pets when visiting any national park. At Joshua Tree, pets are not allowed on trails, with the only exception being the Oasis of Mara trail behind the visitor center in Twentynine Palms. For further rules and information on visiting with pets call us or check out our website at www.nps.gov/jotr. For Copper Mountain Broadcasting Z107.7 This is Park Ranger Pam Tripp, asking you to keep your pets safety in mind when planning a trip to your national park
