A small dog has been reunited with her family after surviving more than a month in Yellowstone National Park, where freezing temperatures and predators including coyotes, wolves and bears had rescuers fearing for her life.
Luna, a 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix from California, was found alive on Wednesday after spending 34 days on the loose in the Wyoming wilderness. She had escaped from her family's cabin on September 10 and repeatedly evaded attempts to capture her, despite sightings across the park.
The dog was discovered in a humane trap set by volunteers who had spent weeks searching for her, just days before worsening winter conditions threatened to bring the rescue operation to an end.
“She’s underweight, but that’s to be expected. She’s alert and in good spirits,” said Katie Boucher, president of the Montana-based Norris Ark Training and Recovery Center.
...
How Did Luna Go Missing?
Luna disappeared from the Canyon Village area of Yellowstone while her family was visiting Norris Geyser Basin.
According to Boucher, Luna's owners had left her inside their locked cabin with a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door, but she managed to escape after a housekeeping employee entered.
Boucher told the Associated Press that hopeful staff chased Luna for approximately two hours, apparently frightening the dog and sending her further into the park.
Todd Walton, director of marketing and sales at Yellowstone National Park Lodges, told SFGate that staff had entered to deliver fresh towels requested by the family. He said pets were prohibited from being left unattended, so employees had not expected a dog to be inside.
Luna's owners remained in Yellowstone for another week, searching for Luna before eventually returning to California. They warned that she was unlikely to survive the cold conditions and predators, particularly coyotes.
However, sightings continued, so the family contacted Boucher, whose organization specializes in recovering lost animals.
“I cannot fathom how I would feel if I had been taking the vacation of a lifetime, and looking for all these memorable experiences in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and lost one of my family members there,” Boucher said.
How Did Luna Survive?
Little Luna, who weighed approximately 20 pounds before disappearing, most likely struggled for survival amid coyotes and wolves, as well as mountain lions and grizzly bears, as temperatures fell and snow began falling in the park. Boucher believed Luna possessed skills that helped her endure the conditions after spending her first year living on the streets before being rescued and adopted.
Throughout September and early October, employees and visitors reported spotting Luna near lodges, restaurants and employee housing. Boucher said Luna appeared to retrace some of the locations her family had visited before she disappeared. But despite several sightings, catching the AWOL pup proved difficult.
Rescuers eventually identified an area where Luna appeared to be sleeping and installed a specialized trap containing scraps from a family member's T-shirt and pillowcase in the hopes of luring her back to safety.
The Rescue
The breakthrough came on Wednesday, when Luna's owner approached the trap and discovered her dog resting. Boucher said Luna greeted her owner and allowed rescuers to put a leash on her.
Norris Ark Training and Recovery Center announced the news in a Facebook post: "WE GOT HER!!! Luna is safe." After being recovered, Luna was taken to a veterinarian for examination.
The incident has prompted reminders about the dangers domestic animals face inside Yellowstone and America's other vast national parks. Under the National Park Service's pet regulations, pets are restricted to developed areas, must remain under physical control and are prohibited on hiking trails, in thermal areas and in the backcountry.
"Do not bring your pets to Yellowstone Park. It is too dangerous. Accidents happen. People make mistakes,” Norris Ark Training and Recovery Center said in a statement following Luna’s discovery. “Disasters happen. Your pet could become lost and not be as lucky as Luna."
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and Dave Siminoff.