Safety Information and Tips

• Call 911.

• Find the nearest light pole. Address marker signs on each light pole allow a 911 operator to locate you.

• Contact the City of St. Louis Park Rangers at 314.289.5350.

• Contact the City of St. Louis Mounted Police Horse Stables at 314.444.1290.

• Forest Park is closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

• Early-morning visitors should park in the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center’s east or west parking lots.

• Report suspicious behavior by calling 911.

• Forest Park’s light pole address marker system allows a 911 operator to locate you.

• Keep up with road closures and other alerts.

• Learn more about safely navigating the six-mile dual recreational path.

• Swimming is not allowed anywhere in Forest Park. The water in fountains and waterways is not treated and not safe for swimming.

• Personal boats, kayaks, paddleboards, etc. are not allowed in any park waterway or lake.

• Unleashed dogs are in violation of Park regulations and City ordinance.

• If you observe an unleashed dog or dogs, call 911 and St. Louis Animal Care & Control at 314.657.1500.

• Animal Care & Control possess the proper training, equipment and authority to handle such situations.

For their safety and ours, it is essential that visitors avoid behaviors that encourage human-wildlife interactions.

• If you encounter a wild animal, do not approach and do not feed. This only encourages unsafe human contact.

• Report injured, sick or dangerous wildlife to the Citizen’s Service Bureau or contact a park ranger at 314.289.5350. Animal Care & Control will respond to a report of wildlife that is injured or poses a safety or health issue, but they will not respond to reports of nuisance wildlife.

• Do not try to capture or “adopt” an animal, even one that appears young or injured. It’s illegal and does more harm than good. 

• Find more information on how the City of St. Louis handles wildlife issues and additional organizations who may be able to offer guidance.

• The Missouri Department of Conservation is a great resource for learning to live with the wildlife who share our habitats.

As a nonprofit conservancy, Forest Park Forever seeks to provide a positive environmental impact and home for urban wildlife within the heart of St. Louis. Part of our daily work is sustaining nearly 194 acres of connected Nature Reserve that supports a diverse ecosystem for native and migratory species.

• Chiggers, ticks, wasps, yellow jackets and other biting and stinging insects are present in Forest Park. Many thrive in the heat and are very active during the warmer months of the year.

• Bug spray can be a deterrent, but it is not a solution. Wearing long sleeves and pants tucked into socks offers the best protection.