The Missoula area provides many opportunities A DOG to enrich your outdoor experience by taking a dog along. Taking your pet can also OWNER’S add an element of risk to your journey. Read on for some tips on how to make your outdoor GUIDE adventure an enjoyable experience.
Does my dog need a leash? Be prepared for what to do if you Consider your dog’s behavior and the place you encounter wildlife with your dog. To Outdoor Opportunities plan to go. Remember, keeping dogs leashed is the best way to prevent conflicts with livestock, in the Missoula Area wildlife, traps, other people or dogs. Rules and regulations for dogs differ from site to site. For more information, contact: Off-leash Areas: (refer to map) 1. Jacob’s Island Bark Park City of Missoula Parks and Recreation: 2. Fort Missoula Canine Campus Conservation lands, city parks and trails 3. Blue Mountain Recreation Area 600 Cregg Lane 4. Pattee Canyon Recreation Area (406) 552-6258 No dogs on groomed ski trails in winter. www.ci.missoula.mt.us/parksrec
Leash Areas: (refer to map) Lolo National Forest: 5. Some areas on Mount Sentinel Blue Mountain, Pattee Canyon & Rattlesnake Leashes required where posted, such as the “M” Fort Missoula, Bldg 24 trail and some sections of the south face. Dogs (406) 329-3750 must be under voice restraint in all areas. www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo/ 6. Some areas on Mount Jumbo Leashes required near trailheads, seasonally and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP): where posted; check with Missoula Parks & Rec. Fishing Access Sites, State Parks 7. All Parks and Trails within City limits 3201 Spurgin Road City parks, riverfront trail system and all other (406) 542-5500 public lands within city limits, unless posted. fwp.mt.gov 8. Maclay Flats Recreation Site 9. Rattlesnake NRA Main Corridor: Leashes required from S. boundary to milepost 1.7. No dogs allowed 12/1-2/28. Spring
Gulch: Leashes required to M.P. 1.3. No dogs 12/1- 5/15. Sawmill & Curry Gulch: No dogs. 10. Some areas in the North Hills Leashes required unless otherwise posted. 11. Kelly Island Fishing Access Site how to handle encounters with livestock & wildlife Where to go leash requirements what to expect
A Dog Owner’s Guide to Missoula Where to go How to handle dog encounters with wildlife & livestock Leash requirements What to expect
Where to go: From urban dog parks to hiking Encountering livestock: Keeping your dog safe: trails, there are many places near town to take You may encounter cattle, You and your dog could your dog. This map shows a few good options. sheep, goats, horses, mules, encounter mountain lions, llamas or other livestock on black bears, wolves, moose, Areas where wildlife When elk, deer, and other wildlife. Keep your dog trapping is not public or private approaching nearby and under allowed. In addition, Some of Missoula’s Protect your dog: trapping is not favorite dog lands. Dogs may livestock, For protection, the number control to prevent allowed on any other destinations spook livestock, leash your one rule is to keep your dog conflicts with city lands, including especially dog and move nearby and under control. conservation lands or wildlife. open space. horses, which to the down- Dogs running off-trail can 10 may cause injury hill side of the follow wildlife scent and 9 to the animals trails, which can sometimes trail. and people lead wildlife back to you or provoke a wildlife Linc oln H ills involved. Dogs have injured and killed attack on your pet. Rattlesnake Dr. 6 domestic sheep that were working to help control invasive weed species on city lands. If you see a wild animal, leash your dog and 7 1 Keep your dog leashed when livestock are back away from the wild animal. If your dog is 11 nearby. not trained to come, keep it leashed at all times. Do not allow your dog to linger around dead 5 Keeping wildlife safe: Dogs can harm animals, as these may have been killed by a lion
B lu wildlife. A dog chasing wildlife sometimes or bear, which may be resting nearby, guarding e
M t n separates adult wildlife from young and can its kill. Always carry bear pepper spray and have . 2 P a lead to the wild animal dying from stress or it accessible (NOT stuffed in your pack). t t e e
C a direct kill. r 4 8 e e k Traps: Reduce the risk of dogs being captured in D r . 3 Dogs sometimes uncover wildlife that is a trap set for coyotes or other wildlife by keeping bedded down. Wildlife, including newborn dogs on roads and trails and by not allowing animals, should be left undisturbed and them to roam. An instructional brochure to help untouched. Such animals are almost always dog owners release a trapped dog is available Use caution at trailheads: Keep your dog on a hiding, not injured or abandoned, and will from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. leash at trailheads and parking lots to minimize be rejoined by an attending adult when the interactions with other visitors or dogs and to danger has passed. Trap-free areas: protect your dog from vehicles and other hazards. A dog that has taken off on a chase will often not Public land managers in Missoula County have Respect others: Remember that others may not Protect wildlife: respond to commands. designated some areas as "trap-free” for dog owners be as comfortable with dogs as you are. Keep The best way to protect that want to use areas where they know their dog your dog nearby and don’t allow your dog to run will not encounter a legally set wildlife trap, even if wild animals is to keep traveling off-trail. after or make physical contact with other dogs or your dog leashed. Never recreationists. touch or remove wild Trap-free areas are Blue Mountain and Pattee Canyon animals—especially young Recreation Areas and Rattlesnake National Recreation Do remove the doo: Dog owners are Area outside the Wilderness boundary. More detailed responsible for the immediate removal of dog animals. maps of these recreation areas are available from the waste on public land or private land other than Lolo National Forest. Trapping is also prohibited on their own. Carry a bag with you and pack out the all lands administered by the city of Missoula. waste. Don’t leave bagged waste along the trail.