For Marion’s Open Space Acquisition Commission, its pet peeve has historically been the illegal use of motor vehicles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), which mars the trails of the public conservation space under its stewardship. Now, it’s your pet’s poo that peeves the commission.
The Goldavitz Bog, a 75.57-acre property off Old Indian Trail, has been afflicted by illegal ATV use for some time now. These days, though, MOSAC is less concerned about tire prints left behind and more concerned with paw prints leaving behind something else.
“The quad traffic has gone down pretty dramatically in the fall, but the poo traffic has increased,” said MOSAC member Alan Harris.
Harris said signs prohibiting the use of ATVs on the land have been placed on various MOSAC properties including at Goldavitz Bog and Grassi Bog, which seems to have helped mitigate the problem, “But there is poo there,” said Harris.
Harris told The Wanderer that both locations are protected in part because of their value to reduce pollutants from runoff that would have existed had the land been developed into housing.
“Dog wastes can have significant nitrogen that leads to eutrophication (excessive accumulation of nutrients in water that leads to algae blooms and low oxygen levels), as well as the ‘ick’ factor and potential disease issues for other dogs and children,” said Harris. And while the problem doesn’t seem to be as bad as in other areas he has seen, Harris said, “It seems important to create an expectation that dog owners will take care of their dog’s waste.”
Another area of concern is Great Swamp Loop off Joanne Drive, with “a consistent pile up” of dog poo, Harris said. “Probably one dog going near the same spot on a regular walk.”
According to Harris, the White Eagle property in Aucoot Woods has also had its share of piles, “but not a huge number,” he said. “I’d like to keep it that way.”
Aside from a health regulation fining inconsiderate dog owners for not picking up after their dogs on public beaches, the Town of Marion has no other enforceable law to penalize dog owners with a bad habit of leaving a trail of dog poo in their pet’s wake.
“It’s bad enough that you have to deal with ticks and mosquitos and poison ivy…” said MOSAC Chairman John Rockwell, let alone “dog [expletive]”.
By Jean Perry