How can my dog's one poop on the ice be such a big deal?

It is a big deal because of the cumulative effect. Over Christmas break in 2020, there were 99 dogs counted on the ice over a 5 day period. An average of 41 dog feces were left daily during that time period.  That is a lot of poop. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that two days worth of dog waste from about 100 dogs produces enough pollution to close a beach and all watershed areas within 20 miles of it. The EPA is talking about dog feces that is left on land near a waterway that finds its way into the waterway. Our situation at Seymour Lake is more extreme because dog feces is being left on the ice, which means that it all goes directly into the water in the Spring. Freezing does not kill E.coli bacteria.

 

Birds poop too, why are we picking on dogs?

In 2009, Mary Wright and some other scientists conducted a study of the microbial load of animal feces at a recreational beach. According to their findings, 1 dog feces is equivalent to 6940 bird fecal events. Here is a link to the study. Dog feces contained 118 times more harmful bacteria per gram than bird feces.

 

This is not to say that bird waste does not contribute to nutrient loading - it most certainly does. Geese generate a pound of waste daily. According to Eco'RI news, studies show that in ponds, "nearly 20 percent of the ponds’ pollution problems are caused by the birds’ waste." The nutrients in the birds' waste can cause algae blooms. Here is a link to the article that is the source of this information.

 

Why don't we focus on the other sources of nutrient loading to the lake instead of just the dog feces problem?

We are working with water experts to identify and rank all of the sources of nutrient loading on Seymour Lake and to identify actions that we can take to mitigate the risks posed by each one. It makes sense to focus on the dog feces on the ice problem because is happening right now. Please know that we love dogs too. This is about protecting the Seymour Lake water quality from further deterioration and helping to protect those who drink the water (humans and animals) from the diseases that are spread through dog feces.

 

What are kind of health risks are we talking about?

EcoRI News says, "Dog poop is 57 percent more toxic than human waste, and can harbor bacteria and parasites that cause illness in humans. It has been estimated that an ounce of dog waste can contain 650 million fecal coliform bacteria." Here is a link to the article that is the source of this information.

 

Here is a list of some of the diseases or parasites that can be transmitted to humans via dog feces:

• E. Coli – bacterial

  Symptoms: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting

  Note: May be fatal to people with depressed immune systems.

• Campylobacteriosis – A bacterial infection

  Symptoms: diarrhea

• Cryptosporidium – A protozoan parasite

  Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and dehydration.

  Note: May be fatal to people with depressed immune systems.

• Toxocariasis – Roundworms

  Symptoms: may cause vision loss, a rash, fever, or cough.

• Here is a link to an article with a more comprehensive list of the bacterial and parasitic diseases spread to humans via dog feces.

 

Are there any risks associated with dog pee?

Unfortunately, there are risks associated with dog pee. Dog urine can harm water quality because, like dog poo, it contains nitrogen and phosphorus. This is why it is better to keep dogs off the ice.