Description

After shooting this sunrise in Badlands National Park, I drove back to camp and stopped at some turnouts along the way. One of the turnouts I saw a van and a couple sleeping bags laid out in the parking lot – these people had obviously camped here last night. Then I saw a dog off leash wondering around. As I parked and got out, the dog came up to me so I held out my hand to let him know I was friendlyand he nipped at it, I yanked my hand away before he got any flesh, but then he bit my leg. I jumped back in my Jeep as the owners called him over and put him on a leash. I walked by them out to my viewpoint to take some pictures and drove on to camp. When the ranger station opened, I immediately reported these people. The law enforcement officer said she would take a look, but they would likely no longer be there. A while later, I got a call from the officer saying the campers were actually still there and they got a citation for camping in a turnout AND for having their dog off leash. Justice!