Bag That Poop!
Nobody wants to see dog waste on a trail – and most visitors are good about picking it up. Dog feces causes problems even when it’s out of sight in the woods. The EPA has identified dog waste as a significant source of pollution because it contains harmful bacteria (including E. coli, and parasites such as giardia, roundworm, and hookworm) that can be washed into our waterways. People and dogs have contracted diseases and parasites from contact with water polluted by dog feces.
How Can You Help?
Always collect your pet’s waste in a plastic bag (biodegradable bags are available) and dispose of it properly in a garbage receptacle.

MA Society of municipal conservation professionals

Each Con Comm/land trust will put their regulations and information in this space.

GOOD OWNERS MAKE GOOD DOGS
RESPECTING CONSERVATION LAND, WILDLIFE, AND
VISITORS

We welcome you and your dog to our conservation land! We understand that your dog is an important part of your life, and we’re pleased to provide the opportunity for you. With your help we can ensure your dog does not negatively affect other visitors, wildlife, ponds and streams, soil, and water quality.

Other Visitors
While you may love your dog, other visitors may not enjoy dogs or may even fear them. It can be frightening to see an unleashed dog running toward you, even if you like dogs. They might jump on or bark at people and other dogs. In rare cases, uncontrolled dogs have bitten people or attacked other dogs.
How Can You Help?
Keep your dog on leash or under effective voice and sight control. This means your dog is always in your sight, and comes immediately when called.
Educational Resources
Leashing vs. Not Leashing in Eastern North America: https://tinyurl.com/DogsandWildlife

Protecting Wildlife
How Can You Help?
Keep your dog on leash in designated leash areas.
If your dog is off leash, ensure that he/she stays on the trail corridor. This also protects your dog and you against tick bites and tickborne diseases and protects sensitive vegetation from trampling.
Educational Resources
The Scoop on Dog Waste: https://www.ecolandscaping.org/03/pests-pest-management/the-scoop-on-dog-waste/

Reducing Erosion To Streams and Ponds
Most dogs love water! If they love it too much, however, they can have a significant negative impact, causing erosion to stream banks and pond shores.
How Can You Help?
Control your dog’s access to streams, wetlands, and ponds.
Only allow your dog to enter and exit bodies of water at designated access points.
Educational Resources
The Impacts of Dogs on Wildlife and Water Quality: https://tinyurl.com/DogImpactsLitReview

Dogs, especially when unleashed, can cause serious and potentially life threatening issues for wildlife:
Dogs can chase, harm, and sometimes kill wildlife.
They can flush birds from nests, which exposes eggs and nestlings to the elements and predators.
Just having dogs in wildlife areas can subtly alter wildlife behavior in harmful ways. For example, many mammals and birds perceive dogs as predators and will avoid areas where dogs have urinated.