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Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions:

Why can''t I bring my dog to Caspers Wilderness Park?

Domestic animals are an invasion in the wild animal’s habitat. Wild animals rely on scents to tell them whose territory they are in, and they use defecation, urination and oils from their fur and feathers to mark that territory. Scents establish and separate their hunting, breeding and home territories. When dogs enter the wild habitat and leave their own scents, they destroy the habitat for the native animals. As carnivores, the processed food that dogs eat leaves a completely foreign scent. Dogs are also natural hunters, and those natural instincts come back to them instantly when they see another animal worth pursuing, such as a deer, a rabbit, a squirrel, or any other prey animal. This is the wild animal’s home first and they should not have to be terrorized by a foreign predator. They have plenty of natural predators as it is. Larger predator animals such as bobcats, coyotes and mountain lions could also confront or chase your dog with disastrous consequences. If your dog surprises a rattlesnake or another creature that knows how to defend itself, severe injuries could occur. Horses are an exception because they are not predators and they are vegetarians. The scents they leave are not invasive. Park Rangers have observed deer and ravens scavenging their “road apples” for the digested grain that will show up in the poop.


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