By Amy Markarian, Senior Copywriter

You look outside your window and see the sun shining, a slight morning breeze cools the air. It’s a perfect day to stretch your legs on your favorite local conservation area trail. Fresh coffee in hand, you arrive with overwhelming appreciation for the beauty that abounds. You step out of your car and approach the trailhead and, in an instant, your splendid surroundings are transformed into a DUMP.

This scenario, unfortunately, is not uncommon in southeastern Massachusetts. For years, local officials, private landowners, and conservation organizations have fought an uphill battle against illegal dumping on undeveloped land. Often, the items dumped on roadsides and in the woods are those that are either expensive to dispose of legally, require a special permit that may not be available to purchase on site (when items are already loaded in a vehicle and ready to be dropped off), or are considered hazardous waste items that are not routinely accepted at transfer stations. In at least some cases--based on where materials have been found-- it seems that polluters’ intentions may have been to properly dispose of the items. But, when doing so was discovered to be costly or inconvenient, a nearby open space was found to drop the load instead. Plymouth’s expanse of undeveloped lands and unmonitored road frontage, sadly, have historically made for easy dumping grounds in these situations.

All too often, according to Wildlands Trust’s Director of Stewardship, Erik Boyer, “it seems, people view conservation land as an easy place to get rid of things.” Sometimes it’s malicious, sometimes it may not be, but it always has a negative impact on the land and those who use it. Because of the harmful implications for wildlife and water sources in areas where dumping takes place, Wildlands Trust is actively taking steps to deter polluters.

In January, Wildlands' stewardship team was alerted to a massive pile of trash that had been left at one of our Plymouth preserves. Located close to a road in a town-managed cemetery, but within the boundaries of Wildlands’ adjacent conservation land, were 40 to 50 bags of household trash and various appliances left in a sprawling heap. The sheer quantity of debris to be removed made it clear that this was going to be a costly cleanup. However, it was discovered that several items had attached mailing labels containing one person’s name and address.

Our stewardship team notified the Plymouth Police, and an investigation led to criminal charges being filed against the responsible party. MA General Law - Part IV, Title I, Chapter 270, Section 16, states:

“Whoever places, throws, deposits, or discharges...trash, bottles or cans, refuse, rubbish, garbage, debris, scrap, waste or other material of any kind on a public highway or within 20 yards of a public highway, or on any other public land, or in or upon coastal or inland waters...or within 20 yards of such waters, or on property of another, or on lands dedicated for open space purposes, including lands subject to conservation restrictions and agricultural preservation restrictions...shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,500 for the first offense and a fine not to exceed $15,000 for each subsequent offense…”*

In this case, where the responsible party was identified, charges were pressed and the law was utilized to ensure that the burden of time and expenses associated with the cleanup would not be shouldered by a non-profit conservation organization. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s office is currently seeking restitution from the offender for the costs associated with Wildlands’ safe removal of all of the items.

Wildlands Trust hopes that this situation will serve as a reminder to others that dumping is illegal, it is detrimental to our land, water supply, and wildlife, and it will not be tolerated. We will continue to work collaboratively with the Plymouth Police Department to ensure that our community’s natural spaces remain beautiful and safe for all.

(*https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter270/Section16)

By Roxey Lay, Membership & Communications Coordinator

*Editor’s note: In 2020, Wildlands Trust adopted a “leash rule,” requiring dogs to be on leash (leash in hand) at all times on Wildlands property, regardless of towns’ policies about pet control. Read on for more valuable information about dog safety and etiquette on trails.*

With temperatures rising, people from all over the region are getting back out onto the trails. Having access to open public lands is one of the great qualities of living in Southeastern Massachusetts and it’s up to all of us who use these lands to follow appropriate dog etiquette when visiting with four-legged companions. So, before you hit the trails this year, we want to give a refresher on some quick dog etiquette tips for your next visit.

*A pup ready to hit the trails with a group of hikers.*

Your dog pooping on the trails may not seem like it’s a big deal, but it is. Everyone knows not to leave trash on the trail, however, it’s just as important to pick up your dog’s poop, carry it out with you and dispose of it properly. One of the primary reasons is that it can spread disease. “People think it’s fine [to leave it] because it’s natural, but it’s not [fine],” says Stewardship Manager Erik Boyer. “If you’re a dog owner, it should be a concern for your own dog’s safety, as well as for others on the trail.” Animals, including your dog, do occasionally eat other animal’s waste and if they happen to come across some that contains harmful bacteria and/or parasites, it can make them sick. This also applies to humans, who may come in contact with it or unintentionally consume contaminated soil or water. When your dog’s poop breaks down, it may be physically gone but the bacteria remains in the soil or water it has washed into. If you get contaminated soil on your hands and then happen to get it in your mouth or drink contaminated water, it can make you sick too.

Beyond the bacteria, the nutrients found inside your dog’s poop can negatively affect the surrounding ecosystem. Wild animals that live on our preserves eat resources and nutrients from that ecosystem and then return those same nutrients to the area. The nutrient-rich dog food your dog eats, however, results “in poop that’s very rich in substances like nitrogen and phosphorous—the same ingredients you’ll find in fertilizer. The addition of that nutrient-rich poop to an ecosystem leads to an imbalance that, when it’s washed into water sources, can lead to algae blooms and promote the growth of invasive plant species on land.” [1] Nearly every Wildlands preserve has either a wetland or body of water, which eventually connects to the ocean and can affect other areas on the way. For example, 17 different streams connect to the Taunton River and run through 3 counties and 12 cities, populated with 1.7 million people, before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean in Wareham. Contaminating a body of water, no matter how small, can have a larger impact than you may realize.

Bagging it up and leaving it on the ground (or hanging it in a tree) isn’t a good idea either. Now, instead of only your dog’s poop decomposing on the trail, you’ve introduced plastic into the equation. The bag will take years to breakdown and when it eventually does, microplastics, along with the bacteria from the poop, will remain in the soil (or wash into a waterway). The presence of your dog’s waste can also alert prey species to the existence of possible predators, putting undue stress on wildlife that live in that area.

It’s also just plain unsightly. Public preserves are for everyone and no one wants to see dog poop bags littering the trail. “Part of what we do is teach good land ethics and picking up after your dog sets a good example for other trail goers and younger generations,” says Community Stewardship Program Coordinator Conor Michaud. So, if you are out on the trail with your dog this summer, please remember to bring dog waste bags with you and dispose of it appropriately.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, here are some additional tips for dog etiquette on the trails:

*Dogs check out their surroundings on Wildlands’ Post Feast Waddle.*

Know the Town Leash Law:

On any Wildlands property, visitor guidelines require dogs to be under control at all times in order to protect sensitive wildlife and respect other visitors. Prior to your visit, you should familiarize yourself with the leash laws where the preserve is located so you can comply with that town’s definition of “control”. These laws can vary town to town and can range from requiring a leash at all times (sometimes with leash length maximums) to allowing voice command control. In areas that allow voice command, assess your dog’s level of obedience and determine whether or not that is the best option for them or if it’s better, for your dog’s and other visitor’s safety, for them to be on a leash.

Yield Trail Right-of-Way:

When on a trail, if you have a dog and you happen upon another visitor, you should yield the right-of-way to the other visitor. This means stopping and moving to the side of the trail with your pup. If you are in a town that allows voice command control and your dog is not on a leash, you should leash the dog when moving to the side of the trail until the other visitor has passed. You may know your dog is friendly, but others don’t and may not be comfortable with your dog approaching them.

Reflective Gear:

Hunting on Wildlands properties is prohibited unless otherwise posted; however, we do suggest visitors (and their dogs) wear brightly colored or reflective clothing during hunting seasons. Some Wildlands properties share borders with or have trails that cut through other town/organization-owned properties that may allow hunting and it is always a good idea to make sure you and your animal are visible to hunters.

Stay on the Trail:

When visiting any Wildlands property, please respect the wildlife and vegetation around you and stay on the trail. Please don’t let your dog run into the woods as it may disturb local wildlife and destroy sensitive vegetation.

Getting out on the trails is a healthy and fun way for you and your dog to spend your days and we thank you for taking the time to be courteous to both our properties and other visitors!

[1] https://www.outsideonline.com/2292736/its-time-talk-about-dog-poop

Your Trash is Not Welcome Here!

The Scoop on Dog Poop (and Other Trail Etiquette Tips)