Page 10 - wildlands 2024 spring Newsletter v2_Neat

Stewardship Challenges:

Dogs on Trails

Wildlands’ stewardship staff and volunteers encounter no shortage of obstacles in their
quest to preserve the natural, cultural, and social values of lands we help protect. This
series highlights some of the most common issues we confront on our trails, and the simple
solutions you can adopt to keep Southeastern Massachusetts a special place to live.

Wildlands loves dogs. It’s a rare day when a staff member’s furry friend isn’t roaming the
office, stockpiling pats and praises from our team. But out on the trails, dogs can present
frequent and significant challenges to our land stewardship efforts when basic precautions are
neglected.

Managing conservation land is an intricate balancing act. Wildlands stewards many of our
preserves for two overarching values: ecological health and public access. In most cases,
these values are sufficiently compatible to pursue in tandem. But keeping it this way often
requires minor adjustments to how we engage with trails.
When dogs travel off-leash through natural areas, they introduce uncertainty to already Sassy and Eva’s owner demonstrates ethical
precarious systems. Even the best-trained and best-intentioned dog, for example, can dog walking at Tucker Preserve in Pembroke.
intimidate or otherwise harass local wildlife, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem
productivity. For this reason, Wildlands closes Shifting Lots Preserve, our coastal refuge in Plymouth, to pets during the shorebird nesting
season. In other contexts, dogs can be the ones at risk during interactions with wildlife—or with other dogs.
Most critically, unleashed dogs can and have threatened the safety of human visitors to Wildlands preserves. Regardless of your pet’s
behavior, others may find dogs fearsome and even avoid preserves with unleashed dog activity.
“The outdoors is a space for everyone,” said Stewardship Programs Manager Zoë Smiarowski. “No one’s comfort should be jeopardized by
someone else’s convenience of walking their dog off-leash.”
Dogs can also create problems with what they leave behind. Pet waste is unnatural to the environment, posing health risks to local
wildlife and water sources.
You can help! Remember to keep your dog on leash (leash in hand) on Wildlands preserves and to carry out all waste. For off-leash
walking opportunities, explore local dog parks and consult your town’s leash laws.

Thank You for Your Contribution

Wildlands Trust relies on private philanthropy to fund our work to save land throughout the region. We thank
those who have recently given in honor or memory of a loved one. Your gifts help us permanently protect the
natural beauty of Southeastern Massachusetts.
DONATIONS LISTED WERE MADE FROM SEPTEMBER 28, 2023, TO FEBRUARY 20, 2024.
In Memory Of:

SANDRA BREWSTER ED DROZDICK MICHAEL JAMES FORAN
Nyla Brewster │ Stoughton, MA Dr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Iovino │ Hingham, MA Jack Foran │ Plymouth, MA
Betsy Hall and Daniel Roderigues │ Plymouth, MA
DICK & MARY BUCKLEY HERB EMILSON Marcus P. McGraw │ Plymouth, MA
Timothy Buckley and Laura Bete │ Hanover, MA David DeGhetto │ Norwell, MA
MARILYN GARRON
BRIAN COMPTON MARY EVERETT Ms. Tina Garron │ Marshfield, MA
Jan Anderson │ Hanover, MA Stephen E. Everett │ Fairfax, VA
FRANCIS GEER
JIM COULTER PAUL FINCH Anna Chapin │ Brooklyn, NY
Leighton and Dorothy Price │ Plymouth, MA Radcliffe Child Care Center │ North Reading, MA Mrs. Sarah Geer │ Plymouth, MA
Katie Hirt │ Saint Paul, MN
SAM DAVIS FRANCIS FISHER Mary & Robert Lawrence │ Little Silver, NJ
Eric Schmidt & Angelina Fox │ Alexandria, VA Ethan and Linda Warren │ Plymouth, MA Ethan and Linda Warren │ Plymouth, MA
LYNN DEGHETTO SISTER BLAISE FLYNN Janice & Ronald Anderson │ Garrison, NY
Catherine Walsh Bos │ Daufuskie Island, SC Kathy McGrath │ Concord, MA Hartley Corporation │ Garrison, NY
Sam and Caroline Chapin │ Plymouth, MA
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