Gifford Pinchot National Forest

	USDA Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
For Immediate Release: August 30, 2006
Contact: Greg Pohll (360) 274-2149

Mount St. Helens Monument Recommends Not Bringing Pets to Visitor Centers During Hot Weather

VANCOUVER, WA – If you are planning on visiting the volcanic landscape around Johnston Ridge Observatory and Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center at Mount St. Helens this Labor Day weekend, the staff of those facilities want you to consider very carefully before bringing pets to the area. With the forecast calling for temperatures in the mid to high 90's, over the coming weekend the exposed landscape around Mount St. Helens will be a very harsh environment.

“It is really not a good place to bring pets of any type especially on these very hot days,” said Park Ranger Greg Pohll. We have never had a serious incident with regard to pets, but with the weather as hot as it is forecasted to be, pet owners need to be aware this is really not a good place to bring them this weekend.”

The scientific and natural value of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument results in restrictions on pets. They are not allowed on trails or around the visitor centers. All pets have scents that scare or confuse native wildlife and take them out of their natural behaviors long after the pet is gone. They can also become unpredictable around crowds of visitors and other pets.

“Our visitors should also consider the more subtle happiness of their pets. The soil here can even be really hard on the pads of a dog's foot,” said Pohll. “Generally people just don't have a good time at the volcano while they are trying to take care of their friend in a place where there is no shade.”

It is never a good idea to leave your pet alone in a vehicle—hyperthermia can be fatal. Even with the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace in no time.

There are three very small exposed pet exercise areas available in the area of the visitor centers. They are at Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center, Coldwater Lake Recreation area and Johnston Ridge Observatory.

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US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Wednesday, 30 August 2006 at 14:58:07 EDT