Service Animals

 

Service animals are welcomed in all public areas of Great Basin National Park. This includes all visitor centers, campgrounds, park trails, and Lehman Caves. Interface between service animals and wildlife is possible, so precautions should be taken to ensure a safe visit.

What is a service animal?

National Park Service policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability.

Pets, including emotional support animals or therapy dogs, are not covered by ADA protections, nor are service animals in training. These animals are not allowed on park trails, in park buildings, or inside Lehman Caves.

Service Animals in Lehman Caves

Service animals are allowed inside Lehman Caves on a guided ranger tour. The path follows a tight, paved pathway through the publicly accessible areas of the cave. Service animals should be comfortable with tight passageways, thin staircases, and close proximity to other people. We are more than happy to accommodate different needs and abilities, and tour options are available which avoid stairs. Check our mobility accessibility page for more information.

Service Animals in the Backcountry

Qualified Service Dogs are permitted in the backcountry, but travel with dogs in the backcountry is not without risks. Please be aware that having a service animal in the backcountry may put you at increased risk for confrontations with coyotes, mountain lions, and other wildlife. If you take a service animal with you in the backcountry keep it on a tight leash at all times and sleep with it in your tent at night.

Your safety and the safety of your animal are not guaranteed in the backcountry. Where domestic animals and wildlife overlap there is a possibility of exchanging diseases between the two groups. Domestic dogs can introduce disease into wildlife habitats and the park’s canids (coyotes and foxes) are vulnerable to domestic diseases such as canine distemper, parvovirus, rabies, and mange. Likewise, it is possible for domestic dogs to acquire these diseases from wild animals. To further prevent the spread of disease:

• Service dogs must always be leashed or harnessed, under control, and attended at all times.
• Pet food is an animal attractant and should be stored accordingly. Food and food containers must never be left unattended and must be kept out of reach of wildlife.
• Service dog fecal matter must be picked up and disposed of properly. Fecal matter should be disposed of in a trash receptacle, toilet, pit toilet, or if none of those are accessible (such as in the backcountry) it should be buried in a small hole, dug a minimum of six inches (15 cm) deep and 200 feet (61 m) from water sources, campsites, or trails.