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View Gracie the ‘Bark Ranger’ Border Collie Keep Wildlife and Visitors Safe and sound at Glacier National Park

View Gracie the ‘Bark Ranger’ Border Collie Keep Wildlife and Visitors Safe and sound at Glacier National Park
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Gracie, Glacier Nationwide Park’s resident ‘Bark Ranger’ border collie proves dogs are really the most difficult workers—all for the modest wage of stomach rubs.

In 2016, employees associates at GNP uncovered a increasing safety issue at their park. The habituated wildlife—especially mountain goats and bighorn sheep—roamed near to the trails and parking heaps, creating an increased security possibility for both equally park visitors and wildlife. Which is when Mark Biel, GNP’s Normal Sources Method Manager, took inspiration from other parks to resolve the situation a herding dog that could safely direct wildlife away from fast paced regions.

Biel volunteered Gracie, his individual border collie, for the job. And just after temperament assessments, temperament assessments, and a 10-week schooling application, Gracie was all set for the work.

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Biel tells Daily Paws that on Gracie’s to start with day as GNP’s Wildlife Performing Canine (or ‘Bark Ranger,’ her cute unofficial title) she proved she was in good shape for the occupation following herding six bighorn sheep absent from a parking lot in a lot less than a minute.

“1 50 pound border collie from all all those bighorn rams. She felt very excellent about herself,” Biel states.

Biel tells Day-to-day Paws the 7-calendar year-aged pooch is keen to be sure to and very smart, two features the herding canine breed has employed for hundreds of years relationship again to the Roman Empire! In Gracie’s scenario, Biel claims that when the rangers will need her to herd wildlife absent from roads and people, she’s energetic and targeted on obtaining the job finished. We are sure this tough worker would make her herding ancestors happy.

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But Gracie’s obligations as Bark Ranger never end at herding wildlife. She also can help Biel teach site visitors about park principles, in certain, why approaching wildlife is perilous for both folks and animals.

“If it have been just me out there trying to hold persons absent from wildlife, they may appear at me and disregard me…But with Gracie, she’s an attraction. So when I have her I obtain that persons unquestionably do listen,” Biel suggests.

With those incredible capabilities and placing very good seems, it truly is straightforward to see why Gracie is these a strike. Outdoors of trying to keep website visitors and wildlife safe and sound, the photogenic pup is also down to pose for images with park site visitors (only immediately after she’s completed her herding duties, of study course). And for those people of us who won’t be visiting the national park at any time quickly, supporters can maintain up with Gracie and all her outstanding skills on Instagram at @barkrangernps.