Pick Up Pet Waste

We’ve all been there—enjoying a nice walk, taking in the scenery, when suddenly a pile of pet poo comes into view. Not only are these unsightly, smelly stacks an eyesore and shoe-ruiner, but they also pollute our beloved waterways.

Left uncollected, pet waste can be carried into lakes and rivers by rain or snowmelt. When that waste decays in the water, oxygen levels fall and ammonia levels rise, endangering aquatic life. Pet poo also contains nutrients that promote the growth of algae and unwanted weeds, as well as bacteria and parasites that can make recreational activities unsafe.

Clara Brown, an interpretive naturalist at Fort Snelling State Park, regularly finds bagged and unbagged pet waste along trails and even stuck in the forks of trees. “Pets are not part of the ecosystem of the park, and the food that they eat at home isn’t either,” Brown says.

“When pet waste is left behind in parks, it introduces nutrients and diseases into the system that otherwise would not be there.”
So what can you do to help keep Minnesota’s trails and waterways waste-free?

• Pick up your pet’s poo immediately after they do their business, every time. 

• Carry bagged pet waste with you until you find a garbage can. Don’t leave it somewhere with the intention of coming back later. 

• Purchase bags made from compostable bioplastics or post-consumer recycled plastic to lessen your impact on the environment. You can also repurpose single-use plastics found around the house, like bread bags.

To learn more about the impact of pet waste on Minnesota’s stormwater, visit stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/bacteria_in_stormwater.