EALT is proud to offer hiking trails at many of our conservation lands. We know that these sites are favorites for rural neighbours and nearby communities, not just those who come from Edmonton. From the views of waterfowl on the lake at Glory Hills, the open meadows at Bunchberry Meadows, the impressive beaver lodges at the Smith Blackburn Homestead and to the creek valleys of Coates or Carbyn Creek, EALT is excited to offer views of a variety of natural habitats. EALT aims to allow visitors to explore these habitats while also allowing the natural area to thrive. Determining the appropriate balance between conservation and recreational opportunities is a challenging task for every natural area manager, not just for EALT.
Looking at the view at Pipestone Creek. Photo by Kassia J
A specific example of this is whether dogs are permitted on site. We realize that many hikers are passionate about bringing their pets along on their adventures, but dogs may not always be welcome at every natural area.
The effects of dogs on natural areas
Nest disturbance - Visitors come to conservation lands to connect with nature, enjoy birdwatching, and possibly view some wildlife. Oftentimes, dogs interfere with these activities since they can directly disturb wildlife and their habitat. As dogs run and explore their surroundings, they may find ground nests from birds. Ground nesting and shorebirds are most at risk from dog activity and often will not return to their nest if they have been scared off.
Wildlife behavior - Most wildlife will change their behavior in areas where dogs are present, often avoiding busy areas. Even when a dog is not present, the marking left behind can repel wildlife from using an area.
Wildlife activity - The presence of dogs can even change the timing of when wildlife choose to rest, forage, and move across the landscape. Dogs on the land can increase the time spent where wildlife are on alert rather than feeding, wasting valuable energy. To avoid wasting their energy, and areas that have increased dog activity, research has shown that wildlife are changing their behaviors to be more nocturnal.
Habitat disturbance - Habitat for wildlife can be disturbed by dogs in multiple ways. Soil often becomes compacted or disturbed from running and digging. Native plants can be damaged, or even outcompeted by invasive plant species brought in by dogs.
You can learn more about the effects of dogs in natural areas from this post by NCC.
Photo by Jamie Street
Things to know before your dog roams
The impacts of dogs on the landscape can be serious for wildlife, but bringing dogs out to natural spaces isn’t without consequences for them either.
Environmental hazards - Through their exploration, dogs can contract diseases from the soil, water, feces, or wildlife remains they may interact with. There is a possibility that a dog may even ingest something toxic to them.
Aggressive wildlife - Wildlife can also pose a risk to dogs visiting the land. Carnivores such as coyotes may encounter dogs and become aggressive. Even ungulates (such as moose) can be unpredictable and aggressive, and could harm a dog if encountered.
Other dogs – Not all dogs are friendly; and when dogs are off-leash it can be especially difficult to anticipate the behaviour of other visitor’s dogs. Aside from the environmental hazards and wildlife a dog may encounter, a serious incident may occur even with another dog when not within an owner’s reach.
Hiking in Pipestone Creek. Photo by Kassia J
Be a responsible dog owner
At most of our sites, we do trust that our visitors can be responsible dog owners, and allow the opportunity to bring their canine companion. Here are some tips for visitors to keep in mind to be a responsible dog owner:
Keep your pet on leash - Choose designated off-leash parks if you want your dog to run free.
Respect signs and designated trails – our conservation sites have wayfinding signs throughout the trails, and maps available online. Our visitor guidelines and signs describe what activities are permitted on the land.
Keep a distance from wildlife – Stay at least 30 meters (or 3 bus lengths) away from wildlife like moose and deer. Carnivores need even more space!
Don’t visit at night – Wildlife can transition to being more active at night because of human activity. Give them a break and choose to visit during the daytime.
Pick up after your pet – EALT operates on leave no trace policies, and this includes what pets leave behind as well.
We hope that this information will encourage visitors who hike with their dog often to further support these places that they enjoy visiting. Keeping your pet on a leash, picking up after yourself, and staying on trail all help in maintaining a safe place for wildlife. Visitors can also consider giving back to nature by volunteering or donating to EALT.
For your reference, we have compiled the list of dog friendly EALT conservation lands below:
EALT Conservation Lands and Dogs
Sites that permit dogs:
Boisvert’s GreenWoods
Coates
Glory Hills maskihkiy meskanaw
Golden Ranches
Hicks
Larch Sanctuary
Pipestone Creek
Smith Blackburn Homestead
Sundew
Sites that do not permit dogs:
Bunchberry Meadows
Carbyn Creek Wildlands
JBJ McDonald
Lu Carbyn Nature Sanctuary
