As summer is approaching, I’d like to share this bird-friendly beach etiquette reminder. A lot of people let their dogs roam freely on the beach, but dogs that chase wildlife can have a detrimental effect on the animals that have no choice but to share the shoreline with us. Please enjoy the summer with your pets and make sure to give wild animals plenty of space!
Potentially controversial opinion here, but this goes for any other natural place too. Your dog shouldn’t be running off-lead and disturbing wildlife outside of specific designated dog areas. The amount of damage free-roaming dogs cause to the rare ground-nesting birds on the heathland near me, despite constant appeals for people to keep them on-leash, is disgusting. And for the love of FUCK, stop letting your dogs run off-leash in fields with livestock. Especially pregnant ewes and young lambs.
“But my dog is a nice dog and my dog would never hurt any animal!”
I don’t believe you.
The other animals don’t know that. Stress is enough to make ewes miscarry. Having to panic and flee costs precious energy. Dogs trampling nests is enough to destroy eggs.
Keep your fucking dog on a leash.
Important generally but also specifically for shorebirds. Many are endangered or threatened and nest in very specific places, and one loose dog among eggs or chicks can devastate a colony.
