The recent has claimed several lives at , but that's not stopping people from visiting. So some park rangers at recently performed an experiment to show just how extreme the current conditions really are. Like many areas, the South Dakota park has been under an recently, but instead of issuing the same dire warnings that seem to fall on deaf ears, the rangers decided to pull out the cookie dough.
"It's been over a hundred degrees at Badlands for the last few days, so the rangers decided to make the best of it by testing a classic hypothesis - can you bake cookies in your car on a hot summer day?" write the rangers in a Facebook post. Photos of the experiment, which you can view below, reveal that the conditions inside a locked car right now are plenty hot enough to provide you with a tasty afternoon snack. "Not only did the cookies bake, they also cooked completely through AND had justttt the right amount of gooey goodness in the center - total, yummy perfection!" Great news for rangers, but bad news for you and your pets.
Though the experiment and post were conducted in a lighthearted manner, the underlying message is clear: don't leave your pets inside a locked car this summer. "If we can bake cookies in a hot car, NO animal should be sitting in those conditions." Many on the trail, so if you're intent on visiting one with your pooch this summer, check out our guide to the so you can be sure you don't have to choose between endangering your dog and getting on the trail.
Needless to say, such hot conditions are dangerous for you too. Last week, we reported on three deaths at western National Parks due to the heat wave and another three were reported over the weekend at . Carry plenty of water and have an emergency plan in place if your car breaks down in a remote area.
If you're hiking, the rangers issued the following advice for staying safe: Learn more in our article on ..
