Seriously , what ca n’t dog do ?
Gracie , Glacier National Park ’s resident ' Bark Ranger’border collieproves dogs are truly the hard workers — all for the small-scale pay of abdomen rub .
In 2016 , stave members at GNP discovered a growing rubber upshot at their park . The habituated wildlife — peculiarly quite a little goats and bighorn sheep — swan close to the trails and parking lot , cause an increase safety gadget risk for both park visitant and wildlife . That ’s when Mark Biel , GNP ’s Natural Resources Program Manager , take brainchild from other park to purpose the issue ; a herd dog that could safely point wildlife away from interfering area .
Biel volunteer Gracie , his own border collie , for the task . And after temperament assessments , personality assessments , and a 10 - week grooming program , Gracie was quick for the business .
Biel secernate Daily Paws that on Gracie ’s first daylight as GNP ’s Wildlife Working Dog ( or ' Bark Ranger , ' her lovely unofficial title ) she proved she was fit for the job after herding six bighorn sheep away from a parking lot in less than a minute .
" One 50 dog pound mete collie against all those bighorn rams . She feel pretty upright about herself , " Biel says .
Biel tells Daily Paws the 7 - class - old pooch is eager to please andincredibly saucy , two traits the crowd hot dog breed has hire for centuries dating back to the Roman Empire ! In Gracie ’s case , Biel says that when the rangers postulate her to herd wildlife by from roads and mankind , she ’s industrious and focused on getting the occupation done . We ’re certain this hard prole would make her herding ancestors proud .
But Gracie ’s duties as Bark Ranger do n’t quit at herd wildlife . She also helps Biel prepare visitant about parkland rules , in special , why approaching wildlife is dangerous for both masses and animals .
" If it were just me out there endeavor to keep people aside from wildlife , they might reckon at me and disregard me … But with Gracie , she ’s an attraction . So when I have her I come up that people definitely do listen , " Biel says .
With those unbelievable attainment and move upright looks , it ’s promiscuous to see why Gracie is such a strike . Outside of keeping visitor and wildlife rubber , the photogenic pup is also down topose for photos with park visitors(only after she ’s finished her herding duties , of course ) . And for those of us who wo n’t be visit the national car park anytime soon , fans can keep up with Gracie and all her incredible skills onInstagram at @barkrangernps .
