Dogs on Nature Reserves

Dogs on lead

Peter Cairns/2020VISION

Nature Reserves

Dogs on Nature Reserves

Our Dogs on Reserves Policy

The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs, and Northants manages nature reserves for the benefit of wildlife, and to enable people to connect with nature. 

Dogs and their responsible owners are welcome on most of our sites and our standard advice for visitors is that all dogs should be kept on a lead and prevented from entering water.

Why do we ask you to keep dogs on leads?

Protect wildlife

  • The presence of dogs disturbs and stresses wildlife all year around: consider small mammals, nesting birds, reptiles and amphibians, and fledglings
  • Constant disturbance reduces an animal’s fitness and affects breeding success
  • Dog scent can deter wildlife, even after the dog has departed
  • Topical flea treatments can poison water when they’re washed off fur
  • Dogs in ponds disturb sediment, affecting aquatic life 
  • Dog mess unnaturally alters soil nutrient levels and contains chemicals harmful to wildlife. Bag it and bin it

Protect livestock

  • Livestock, like sheep, cows and horses, are used to manage some of our nature reserves. They all potentially perceive dogs as predators, 
    regardless of relative size or breed
  • Many dog owners underestimate their dog’s drive to chase – keep your dog on a lead even if you don’t think they’ll worry livestock
  • Pregnant livestock can miscarry if chased

Protect people

  • Some people, especially children, may be upset by off-lead dogs, even if they are friendly
  • Keep your dog on a lead
  • Bag your dog’s mess and put it in the bin or take it home. Dog mess is unpleasant and disruptive
  • Rare but real: dogs can carry worms causing toxocariasis and potential blindness

Being a responsible dog owner means:

Keeping your dog on a lead by default on nature reserves and in wilder green spaces:

- Even in areas with no obvious signs

- Regardless of whether other dogs are off-lead in the area

Picking up after your dog:

- Use bins where provided, or take full bags home to dispose of in your own bin

Set a positive example:

- Your dog may be well behaved, but not every dog is like this

- The more people see others with their dog on a lead, the more they will follow

Avoid walking large groups of dogs:

- Large groups of dogs can be difficult to control

- Commercial dog walking is not allowed on our nature reserves

View our full Dogs on Reserves Policy document

Infographic: "Our signs are there to guide you". An icon of a dog in a red outlined circle with a diagonal red line through it means "no dogs except assistant dogs". A dog icon in a red outlined circle means "dogs on leads". An icon of a dog in water in a red outlined circle with a diagonal red line through it means "no swimming" and an icon showing a dog walker putting waste into a bin, in a red outlined circle, means "leave no trace". "Signs may not always be visible. Keep dogs on leads on reserves"

There are a small number of reserves that do not allow dogs

Betony at Upwood Meadows June  - c. Robert Enderby

Betony at Upwood Meadows June  - c. Robert Enderby

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