Resources Regarding Service Animals Badlands National Park would like visitors to have an enjoyable and safe experience with your animals in the park.
There are numerous resources available to help visitors understand laws, rules, regulations, and policies regarding service animals, pets, and other animals on NPS sites. Use the droptabs below to access the relevant information Before traveling with your animal to your National Park Service site, please look into the individual park's policies on service animals, pets, etc.
Each park site may have its own unique rules regarding your animal in regards to specific safety issues that might be unique to the site or surrounding region These safety issues include, but are not limited to, potential wildlife and other local environmental hazards. For instance, Badlands National Park contains habitat for Prairie dogs, which can carry diseases such as Yersinia pestis (or Plague). It is in the best interest of your animal's safety to keep them away from Prairie dog colonies. Each park's rules on service animals and pets can be found on the park's individual website or their respective Superintendent's Compendium. The Superintendent's Compendium for Badlands National Park can be found here. (The Superintendent's Compendium for Badlands National Park can be found here.)
36 CFR §2.15 - Pets2.15 (a) (1) Pets are permitted in Badlands National Park with some restrictions. Pets cannot be left unattended. While visiting the park, pets must be kept on a leash of which must be no more than six feet in length. Pets are only allowed in developed areas, such as campgrounds and picnic areas, and other areas open to motor vehicles, such as gravel and paved roadways, roadway corridors, and parking lots. Pet etiquette dictates always cleaning up animal waste and disposing of it in trash receptacles. Determination: The Superintendent has established conditions for the keeping of pets by residents of Badlands National Park. Appendix B, adopted herein, is to protect government property, visitors, residents, pets, and park resources. Pets will not be permitted in portions of Badlands National Park where prairie dog colonies exist, on nature trails, or in areas where vehicles are prohibited. Pets must be on a leash during the visit. Pets which are allowed to run loose, have the potential to escape and could adversely affect native wildlife or become established as feral animals. For the purposes of this determination, service animals are not considered pets and may be utilized on nature trails, but not within the prairie dog colonies due to potential infectious wildlife diseases, which is also the reason for prohibiting pets off established roadways and road corridors. Areas such as Cliff Shelf and Door and Window are highly congested areas during the summer months. Some dogs and strangers do not mix well; thus, it would be inviting dog bites.
2.15 (a) (5) Pet excrement shall be removed by the pet owner/handler from all public use areas. 2.15(e) Park Residents are allowed to keep pets under the conditions established in Badlands Office Order #008, incorporated herein as Appendix B. Noisy pets are not allowed in the park. Pet owners are responsible for removing the pets from the park if complaints are made and upheld.
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Last updated: June 21, 2023