Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is urging dog owners to keep their pets on short leads now that wildflowers are shooting, birds are nesting, species are emerging from hibernation and to protect grazing livestock.

Experts say loose dogs are one of the biggest causes of wildlife disturbance – this is particularly problematic when species are vulnerable either on or near the ground. Bluebells are a case in point – many people enjoy the spectacle of visiting woodlands carpeted blue but these delicate wildflowers can be damaged by dogs, as well as humans, trampling on them.

Breeding birds are also at risk, with ground-nesting birds particularly so. Species such as Curlew, Corn Bunting and Skylark need all the help they can get, with research showing that 66% of ground-nesting birds are in decline in the UK, compared to 31% of other species.

Dogs can also be a threat to sheep, cows and other grazing livestock – with regular problems reported on the Trust’s reserves, where conservation grazing is carried out later on in the year. Dog waste, too, is dangerous for wildlife as it can carry diseases, scare away animals and fertilise soils, affecting the natural balance of fragile habitats.

Dog owners can help wildlife if they:

• Keep dogs on short leads on nature reserves and in the wider countryside
• Stay on pathways
• Clean up after animals and dispose of dog waste in bins or at home
• Avoid using nature reserves if walking large groups of dogs

Many of the Trust’s 40 nature reserves welcome responsible dog walkers but instances of dogs disturbing wildlife led the charity to issue a plea to keep the safety of wildlife in mind. Some of these wild places with particularly sensitive habitats or species may also be closed to dogs.

Steven Werrell, Senior Project Officer with the Trust’s Nature Reserves Team says:

“It’s great so see people enjoying our nature reserves and other wild spaces while walking their dogs, but we ask them to do so responsibly. Wildlife is suffering huge declines and dogs in wild places can cause problems, especially in spring and through to the end of summer when there’s a lot of activity in nature and many species are breeding. Simply by keeping dogs on leads, sticking to marked paths and clearing up as we go, we can lessen the impact on nature and continue to enjoy all that it offers.

“This message is particularly pertinent as we head into the Bluebell season, where we see an influx of visitors to our woodland reserves – please continue to come and enjoy this wonderful sight but be aware that close by there could be ground-nesting birds and other wildlife including amphibians and mammals.

“When we have grazing livestock on our reserves, we urge you to keep dogs on leads for their safety as well as the other animals and to always follow the safety signs.”

The impacts of loose dogs in wild places include trampling nests and scaring adults away from their young. Vulnerable chicks can perish if left alone for too long. Disturbance can also affect feeding and foraging behaviour – wildlife is less likely to breed and feed in areas where dogs are encountered. Ground flora is also impacted by trampling.

The law states you must keep your dog on a lead no longer than two metres between 1st March and 31st July when on any open access land to protect ground-nesting birds.

The Countryside Code outlines that dogs must be controlled to avoid disturbing farm animals or wildlife. Farmers have a defence in law, if they have cause to shoot/destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals.

Responsible dog owners who keep their dogs on leads during nature's busy season will also be helping wildlife by:

• Lessening the negative impacts of dog poo and urine
• Preventing dogs jumping in ponds, which can disturb aquatic wildlife. Insecticides found in dog flea treatments can pollute waterways
• Reducing risks to other animals, including livestock

For more information about dogs on nature reserves visit: www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/dogs-nature-reserves