Comments on: Research Study Says Walking Your Dog May Be Harmful To Bird Populations

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:13:47 +0000

I agree Lynne. Definitely b.s. — my dog has yet to run off the birds and squirrels that come on my back deck to eat from the feeders. As soon as he walks back inside, they are right back at it.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:50:56 +0000

Having 4 dogs in my backyard hasn’t stopped the birds from running through a sack of birdseed each week and I’ve observed over 30 different species in the yard.

Sounds like a b.s. study to me.

By: pat

pat — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:18:19 +0000

I don’t think there’s any doubt that the presence of a dog can disrupt birds, but let’s look at the parameters in this study:

“Observers monitored all native birds seen or heard within 165 feet of an 820 feet trail. Monitoring began 20 seconds after the walker/dog-walker had set off and continued for 10 minutes.”

Ten minutes. Ok, this could be problematic for nesting birds or birds rearing chicks… but that’s a seasonal thing.

And the findings:

“There were 76 fewer birds within 30 feet of the trail when dog-walking occurred compared to control sites, suggesting birds were seeking refuge away from the immediate vicinity of threat.”

Within 30 feet of the trail. Nothing about what happened within 40 feet, or 50 feet or 100 feet.

I think if they have worries about highly sensitive species, they could temporarily restrict access to trails during critical periods in their reproductive cycle.

By: highnote

highnote — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 03:05:11 +0000

I personally do not agree with this at all. I think that animals learn to adapt to changes in their environment. I see too many birds in my back yard on the ground and my dog is right out there too. Since the people are walking their dogs it is not like the dog is running wild through the woods.

By: Moonbeams

Moonbeams — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:57:51 +0000

I personally object to so many limits/ restrictions being put on dog owners (clean up after our dogs and keep them from pestering wildlife is fine) but so many places ban dogs that it is narrowing the places where one can walk a dog and enjoy nature too - as if dogs are not a part of the natural world - and I suppose people aren’t either - just birds and rats and squirrels and rabbits are okay - but no dogs.

We are assaulted by loud radios in cars, overhead jets, strong purfume, cursing, yelling, and whatever else humans do out of boredom but yet it is the dogs that is the problem.

My only complaint is people that don’t pick up their dog’s pooh - and someplaces by the river I don’t go anymore because of the mounds of pooh one has to step over. I’d like a campaign to educate dog owners to pick up after themselves and also to keep their dog on a leash unless in a place where it is okay to let them off leash. People don’t realize that a dog leashed and one unleashed means instant confrontation by the leashed dog. That’s the only issues I think dog owners need to be aware of - birds overhead - ah really?

By: nora

nora — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:05:12 +0000

That is so right on Lynn. The birds will just move on to the next wooded area where the dogs don’t go, where as developement takes up miles and miles of acres and food and trees and watering sources that impact THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of birds a year.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:21:25 +0000

Development still does FAR more harm to bird populations than dogs ever could.