In the vast expanse of Yellowstone National Park, spanning Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, a ten-year-old Jack Russell terrier and chihuahua mix named Luna was safely reunited with her California family after surviving alone in the wilderness for over a month. Luna escaped on September 10 after housekeeping accidentally opened the door to her family's cabin while they were out exploring. Despite fears of freezing autumn weather and apex predators, the plucky senior dog beat the odds through sharp survival instincts honed during her early life as a rescue stray.
Over several weeks, park visitors and employees reported sightings of the small white dog with pointy ears darting across intersections, trotting through employee housing, and even stepping through automatic lodge doors. Realizing Luna was evading crowds in fight-or-flight mode, volunteer rescuer Katie Boucher, president of the Norris Ark Training and Recovery Center in Norris, Montana, spearheaded a coordinated rescue. Local shopkeeper Marie Jaskula placed informative posters across park entrances reminding visitors not to chase the frightened pup.
Operating against a strict deadline before seasonal park closures, Boucher and one of Luna's owners placed a live trap baited with familiar scent items, including a family T-shirt and pillowcase, strictly avoiding food lures that could attract bears. On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Luna walked into the trap. Aside from being slightly underweight, veterinary exams showed she was alert and in wonderful spirits as she nestled securely back into her owner's arms.
Source: https://6abc.com/story/search-missing-california-pup-luna-yellowstone-national-park-is-pressure-winter-nears/19937921/