Photo by Brendan von Wahl / Getty Images
By Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin
An incident in Banff earlier this year where an off-leash dog attacked a mule deer is an important reminder to keep dogs leashed in on-leash areas, especially if you’re going to be hiking, camping, or hitting the trails with your pup this summer. Keeping your dog leashed in on-leash natural areas is an important way to not only keep wildlife safe, but you and your dog as well.
Impacts of off-leash dogs on wildlife
Off-leash dogs can have a significant impact on wildlife, from chasing wildlife to disturbing habitat; simply leashing your dog can make a positive difference in the lives of wildlife. For example, a study out of Santa Barbara, California found that off-leash dogs disturbed 34% of all birds on the beach, versus on-leash dogs which disturbed 11%. Such disturbances can cause increased stress; for example, Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), showed increased heart rate when approached by a human with a dog versus only a human (Weston & Stankowich, 2013). Not only can off-leash dogs cause stress responses, they can also alter spatial distribution and negatively affect normal behaviours like resting and foraging. In some cases, as seen in Banff, dogs may kill or injure wildlife, with smaller mammals and birds being most at risk.
Infectious diseases are a leading conservation threat, with dogs being a potential source of disease for wild canids, which are particularly vulnerable to population-level declines due to disease (Bryan et al., 2011). Diseases like distemper and parvovirus (preventable through routine vaccination) and parasites like tapeworms, can be transmitted from dogs to wild canids. Preventing contact between dogs and wildlife as well as picking up your dog’s feces are important steps in preventing any disease transmission; if your dog isn’t leashed and defecates somewhere out of sight, their waste may be left behind, potentially exposing wildlife to harmful parasites. In addition to leashing your dog, regular veterinary care is therefore important if you are walking your dog in areas where wild canids may be present.
Photo by Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Images
Leashing your dog saves wildlife
The high use of natural areas, including national, provincial, and territorial parks, by dog walkers coupled with the low uptake of leash laws puts wildlife at risk. However, leashing your dog reduces the degree of roaming, speed, approach, distance, and potential chasing of wildlife by dogs (Weston & Stankowich, 2013), and reduces the amount of habitat disturbance that off-leash dogs can cause. Yet, despite the presence of off-leash areas and leash laws in wildlife habitat, research shows that compliance with leash laws is often low. Some research discusses a lack of awareness from dog guardians when it comes to where dogs can be safely off-leash, suggesting the need for increased public awareness of the negative effects dogs can have on wildlife (Squires, 2022); increased signage and awareness campaigns can help with the uptake of leashing dogs.
What YOU can do as a dog guardian who enjoys the great outdoors is lead by example: keep your dog leashed in on-leash areas, pick up after your pup, and ask other dog guardians to do the same.
About Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin
Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Guelph where she studied human-African wild dog conflict and conservation in Botswana, Africa. Dr. Fraser-Celin is The Fur-Bearers’ Science Communication and Research Associate. Valli has always been interested in the human dimensions of wildlife, in particular, humans’ relationships with large carnivores, she collaborated with the Fur-Bearers on a research project exploring Canadians’ perceptions of and knowledge about wolves. Valli is also passionate about dogs, and advocates for dog welfare through her Instagram @thelivesofwilddogs. In her spare time, she runs a pet pantry at her local community centre for pet guardians experiencing pet food insecurity.
