A Century on the Trail: Denali's Sled Dog Kennels with David Tomeo
Hold onto your harnesses, because today on Working Like Dogs, Fenway and I traveled (by microphone!) all the way to Denali National Park and Preserve to visit the only sled dog kennel in the entire National Park Service — a program that's been running strong since 1922. Our delightful guest, Kennels Manager David Tomeo, took us deep into the sub-arctic wilderness where his phenomenal Alaskan huskies patrol over five millions acres that no snowmobile is allowed to touch, haul scientists and gear into some of the most remote terrain on Earth, and carry forward a mushing tradition rooted in thousands of years of Alaska's indigenous culture.
These dogs aren't just working — they're protecting wild places, powering real science, and honoring a legacy far older than the park itself. And if all that doesn't melt your heart, this will: Denali has a brand-new litter of future patrol pups, and you can watch them grow up live on the park's puppy cam at https://www.nps.gov/dena/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams-pups.htm. Trust me, your productivity may never recover — but your heart will thank you!
Listen to Episode #212 Now:
BIO:
David Tomeo is the Kennels Manager for Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska . Stepping into the role in late 2020, Tomeo is a long-time veteran of the park with over two decades of experience working in the Denali wilderness. He leads the only working sled dog kennel in the entire U.S. national park system , managing a historic operation that has run almost continuously for over a century.
As the head of the Denali sled dog program, Tomeo balances wildlife preservation, cultural heritage, and public outreach:
- Winter Wilderness Patrols: Tomeo and his team mush for weeks at a time across the park's 2 million acres of federally designated wilderness. Because motorized vehicles are banned in these zones, the "Canine Rangers" provide a low-impact, traditional way to logistically support rangers, maintain remote cabins, and monitor the park.
- Sledding for Science: Under his management, the dog teams assist researchers by hauling scientific equipment and collecting wildlife and snow data from far-flung corners of the park.
- Cultural & Public Education: Tomeo oversees summer interpretive programs where thousands of visitors view sled dog demonstrations. He acts as a primary educator on the 100-plus-year-old mushing tradition, highlighting it as a living link to Alaska's cultural heritage.
- Breeding and Training: He manages the breeding cycle and training of future canine rangers. Recently, Tomeo and his staff celebrated the launch of the popular 24/7 Denali Puppy Cam, allowing people worldwide to watch the youngest recruits prepare for life on the working dog team