Hi there, I'm Ranger Tom and this is Ranger Myra.
Welcome to Hopewell Culture National Historical Park.
We encourage visitors to bring along your furry friends
to enjoy the benefits of the outdoors.
There are over 250 national parks that allow pets
to explore and enjoy what the sites have to offer.
Here, at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Ohio, pets are welcome
with their owners every day of the year.
Before you visit with your pets, there's a few things to know
prior to hitting the trails.
We created the BARK Ranger program to help visitors
find pet friendly national parks, what they can do with their pets at the sites,
and what owners and pets can do to help
make each and every visit safe and enjoyable for everyone.
BARK stands for: Bag your pets waste.
Help keep your national parks clean for everyone to enjoy all the time.
Trash receptacles are available throughout the park,
and in some places, dog waste stations are conveniently located in high-traffic areas.
Pets need to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet long.
Retractable leashes are okay,
as long as they do not exceed 6 feet.
Keep in mind, not everyone knows your pet is the best behaved pet in history,
so using a leash reassures everyone
and helps keep pets under control.
National parks are great places to view wildlife
and enjoy nature at its finest.
Wildlife seems to think so too,
so be respectful of their right to enjoy the landscape.
Be mindful of ground-nesting birds at all of our sites,
and stay on trails at all times.
Trails are marked and fairly obvious throughout the park,
so stay on trails to avoid destruction of cultural and natural resources.
Here, at Hopewell Culture, it's particularly important for pets and humans
to avoid walking on mounds and walls.
Keep in mind, these are prehistoric burial grounds,
and in addition to any cultural resources that may be damaged
by walking on mounds or walls,
it could be viewed as disrespectful.
Please don't leave pets unattended
in locked and enclosed vehicles when you visit the park.
It doesn't take long for a vehicle to heat up in the sun.
Make sure you're aware of where you can take your pet
before you visit the site
so that you can avoid any temptation to leave them in the car.
At Mound City Group visitor center,
service animals are permitted in the buildings,
but non-service animals need to stay outside.
Following these simple guidelines
when you visit the park with your pet will
make it a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Ask a ranger about becoming a BARK Ambassador
when you visit, and earn a BARK Ranger
patch and sticker when you're here.
Tell your friends about your BARK Ranger experience
on your social media and on the park's social media pages too.
Tag your posts with the hashtag
#BARKranger to spread the word.
As always ask a Ranger if you have any questions
about the BARK ranger program or,
if you have any park questions or concerns.
Visit nps.gov/hocu for more information on the park,
for upcoming events,
and to learn more about the park's BARK Ranger program.
Thank you for supporting your national parks!
We look forward to seeing you and
your furry pals at the park soon!