Every year, Yosemite National Park brings aboard a herd of “unsung heroes” to their team: mules.
Since the 1890s, Yosemite has had mounted patrol rangers who navigate the park’s tumultuous terrain with the help of some equine companions.
Yosemite rangers rely on horses and mules to conduct search and rescue operations, traverse rough backcountry terrain for deliveries, and educate visitors.
“Back from a restful winter at pasture, Yosemite’s unsung heroes have returned to work for the summer season,” said a social media post from Yosemite. “Mules do a variety of different jobs behind the scenes here in Yosemite.”
This summer, the mules will also carry supplies for trail crews across the park’s 800 miles of trails. They will also work through a vast wilderness to help clear downed trees that block the trails.
A small pack of mules, named Josh and Jake, also haul injured hikers to safety and do country patrols to alleviate traffic problems.
“It’s crucial to have mules respond to sprained ankles and lower extremity injuries … ” a video narrated by a Yosemite park ranger explained back in 2024, “because it allows for other search and rescue staff to be available for other big emergencies in the park.”
Another key job of the mules is hauling compost from the park’s backcountry outhouses.
“If you’ve used the bathrooms in the Vernal/Nevada fall corridor or just like clean water in the Merced, thank a mule,” this year’s Yosemite social media post continued.
The mules have been in action since the early 1900s, and Yosemite maintains about 90 horses and mules, who “honorably serve the National Parks Service an average of 12 to 15 years.” But this year, their jobs are especially important.
As massive layoffs and federal funding uncertainties loom for national parks and public lands, many popular parks like Yosemite are feeling the strain of a reduced labor force.
Prior to the start of the busiest season, California Senator Alex Padilla spoke up about the importance of national park rangers.
“Now is the time to be investing in the recruitment, the training of that personnel that we rely on for public safety in our national parks, for sanitation,” Padilla told ABC10 News.
In the same interview, Padilla said he was concerned about long lines, trash and wastewater treatment.
“The spring and summer and fall will be upon us before we know it,” Padilla concluded in March, “and a lot of visitors that visit Yosemite and other national parks throughout California.”
While the mules don’t make up for the loss in human workers (and seem to get most of their funding from the park’s nonprofit arm), they maintain a strong presence in the park — and typically boost morale.
“During the course of their service, they directly impact hundreds of thousands of visitors as mounted rangers and packers cover innumerable miles,” the National Park Service said of Yosemite’s mules.
This year, a group of Junior Rangers made a motivational poster for the mules, with hand-drawn depictions of the hoofed heroes accompanied by a hearty “welcome back.”
And for Mule Appreciation Day a couple of years back, young visitors also wrote thank you cards for the mules.
“Dear Mule,” a ranger reads aloud to the animals in their pasture. “You are strong. I hope your trails are flat.”
“Dear Mule,” another begins. “You are very helpful. I appreciate all your hard work keeping Yosemite beautiful.”
Once the beloved animals have concluded their years at the park, they are transitioned to an adoption program to rest in a loving home during a “well-earned” retirement.
Park officials advise that if visitors come upon a Yosemite Mule on a trail, they are asked to give the animals the right of way by carefully stepping to the inside of the trail and following directions from the park ranger working with the mule.
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Header image courtesy of NPS Photo/Yosemite National Park
