Two Abandoned Dogs Have Survived Alone on Blue Ridge Parkway for Weeks, NPS Says
If you are planning a trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina, a stretch of road near one of its most popular stops has faced numerous closures in the past week.
According to reports, it may remain that way in the near future as the National Park Service works to capture two stray dogs in the area.
Here is what visitors need to know before heading out.
What Was Closed and Why
The National Park Service closed the Blue Ridge Parkway between mileposts 443 and 455 on April 20. The closure affects a roughly 12-mile segment that includes Fork Ridge Overlook and the popular Waterrock Knob area near Sylva and Bryson City, North Carolina.
The closure is tied to an effort to trap and capture two stray dogs — one white and one brown — that have been spotted in the area since March. WLOS was the first to report the news.
The NPS confirmed that trapping operations are underway and ongoing. The goal is to capture the abandoned dogs and move them to a suitable shelter to recover. Jackson County Animal Services has coordinated with the National Park Service.
An earlier, shorter closure occurred after the NPS received a report on April 18 describing the dogs as “aggressive” near milepost 451 at Waterrock Knob.
Rangers investigated but could not locate the animals. The road was briefly reopened before the wider closure was put in place two days later.
Are the Abandoned Dogs Dangerous?
The April 18 report labeled the dogs as aggressive, but residents who have encountered them over the past several weeks paint a different picture.
Neither animal was wearing a collar when first spotted. The pair has been seen at various scenic overlooks, and community members have shared photos of them on social media.
Residents report the dogs appear to be losing weight over time. The brown dog reportedly has a facial injury that some suspect came from a gunshot.
Witnesses describe the dogs as frightened and wary rather than dangerous. Locals believe someone abandoned the dogs in the area, and no owner has come forward to claim either animal, per Jackson County Animal Services.
“We could tell that they had been set out and abandoned and so we started coming up. We live close so we started coming up and checking on the dogs,” one resident told WLOS.
“That dog was very nice but extremely scared. These dogs were dumped off by somebody, and they are scared and timid,” another resident, who described the dogs as “hungry,” told the outlet.
One Facebook user allegedly spent seven hours trying to capture the dogs three weeks ago.
“The white one is fixed ans the red girl sits on command. She took hot dogs from my hands but I couldn’t catch her,” the user wrote in a comment under WLOS’s Facebook post.
What Visitors Should Do
The NPS has asked the public to stay away from the dogs if they encounter them anywhere along the Parkway.
“We ask that the public notify park officials immediately if they spot dogs off leash in this area and do not approach or attempt to capture or feed the animals,” the NPS wrote in a statement, per WLOS.
For anyone with travel plans that include Waterrock Knob, Fork Ridge Overlook or other stops between mileposts 443 and 455, the road was closed, as of April 20, with no further plans announced.
Visitors should check the latest Parkway road status before heading out and plan alternate routes if needed.
The situation is still developing, and future closures are expected as long as trapping operations continue.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
