BWCA Dog to Quetico Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Quetico Forum
      Dog to Quetico     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

Solobob1
distinguished member (193)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/01/2016 11:34AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Although I have been to WCPP several times, I have never visited the Quetico. I called a border agent today and was told I can not cross with my dog at a ranger station and must cross at a regular entry point like Fort Frances and must have rabies vaccination document. I asked why they cannot permit my dog and me at a remote ranger station when going from the BWCA to the Quetico as long as I have my RABC and passport with the rabies document - what is the problem? I was told this is not acceptable.

So how do the rest of you travel to the Quetico from the BWCA with a dog?

Bob.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
billconner
distinguished member(8608)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
12/01/2016 11:52AM  
Interesting. I'd wager no one is going to say a thing if you enter Canada remotely - ranger station or otherwise - with an RABC. I assure you that based on my encounters and conversation, the Quetico rangers are outspoken in their disinterest in border crossing issues. They care about the wilderness, the fishing and permits regulations and your safety, and do not want to see your passport or RABC.

Hoho should answer as he seem to regularly enter Quetico through PP with his lab.
marsonite
distinguished member(2468)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/01/2016 09:27PM  
Wow, that's a new one on me. I've taken my dog to the Q at least a half a dozen times via Prairie Portage. Never been asked about it, and we have even taken her into the ranger station.

I've crossed the border at regular crossings many times and never been asked there either, though we are always sure to have her rabies certificate.
GraniteCliffs
distinguished member(1981)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/03/2016 03:41PM  
Normally one might encounter a Quetico Park Ranger within the park and obviously at PP. However, I have run into Canadian Customs agents on the border while crossing into Canada and the Q. They are checking RABCs, booze, potatoes, smokes, etc.
I wonder if the Canadian Customs folks that actually patrol the border would care at all if you had the vaccination record with you. I would guess a warning but who knows .
But I would not stop crossing with a dog. Often an answer from a border agent at an official crossing may not be aware of exceptions to a rule or how the RABC might have exceptions to the normal rule.
GraniteCliffs
distinguished member(1981)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/03/2016 03:52PM  
I just spent some time looking for regualtions online. Nowhere can I find any reference to being required to cross at an official crossing. A prior BWCA.com thread has a couple of posters saying they checked and there is no such requirement.
billconner
distinguished member(8608)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
12/04/2016 07:25AM  
What is an " official crossing"? The RABC allows crossing anywhere along border - iirc from way down east Maine to Lake of the Woods. Certainly not required to cross at ranger stations.
12/04/2016 02:09PM  
quote GraniteCliffs: "I just spent some time looking for regualtions online. Nowhere can I find any reference to being required to cross at an official crossing. A prior BWCA.com thread has a couple of posters saying they checked and there is no such requirement."


Make sure you are talking about the same regulations. Quetico entry is both governed by Canadian Customs regs, and Ontario Provincial Park entry regs.
Going thru a Customs control/check point, or crossing on a RABC permit, and entering Quetico, 2 different regulatory agencies.

butthead

PS, "Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC)
The Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) program facilitates the border clearance process for individuals wishing to cross the border into Canada in the following remote areas:

from Pigeon River through to and including Lake of the Woods
the Canadian shore of Lake Superior
Cockburn Island
Sault Ste. Marie (upper lock system)" quote from Canpass website lots of boarder area. bh
GraniteCliffs
distinguished member(1981)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/04/2016 03:13PM  
I only looked up various Canadian Customs regulations. PP and Park rangers, we know, could care less about Customs issues. And vice versa when I talked with Canadian Customs folks on the border.
12/05/2016 01:17PM  
I take my dog to Quetico for a couple of weeks every year, and have never had a problem. The park folks generally love my dog.
12/07/2016 08:37PM  
As the others have said, I've crossed into Quetico many times with my dog at Prairie Portage and have never had a problem. Of course, I've never encountered a customs agent on those trips. But I have my RABC and I'm not aware that there's any regulation about dogs that's different from, say, my canoe, except for having the proof of rabies vaccination along (which I've never been asked for at any crossing). So you should go with your dog via PP or any other RABC permit crossing point.
billconner
distinguished member(8608)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
12/08/2016 07:47AM  
quote GraniteCliffs: "However, I have run into Canadian Customs agents on the border while crossing into Canada and the Q. They are checking RABCs, booze, potatoes, smokes, etc. "


Just trying to be sure I understand, but you have actually encountered a customs agent when crossing remotely? More than once? I had heard there were agents at PP around the time of 9/11, but seemed like an isolated event and no reports since.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Quetico Sponsor:
Canoe Country