The scoop on poop

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

By Brigid Mander

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-As spring finally arrives and the winter’s heavy snowfall begins to melt away, skiers and hikers using local trails say they are stepping over, into and around an unprecedented amout of droppings from man’s best friends.

Every year, the population of Jackson increases, and so does the number of dogs. And despite the efforts of what seems to be a responsible majority of dog owners, some here in the valley say the problems are increasing.

“I think that one got into the garbage,” said one skier as she headed up the Glory boot pack on Teton Pass recently. Many a sunny spring ski run on Teton Pass has begun with such unwanted observations.

As the amount of dog deposits in areas like Teton Pass, Cache Creek, Game Creek and the Snake River dike goes up, the result is a continual source of friction that escalates each year.

“We’re bending over backwards to educate people and make sure they understand why [controlling and curbing their pet] is so important,” said Linda Merigliano, the recreation and wilderness manager for the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Although the national forest is public land and dogs are allowed, such heavy use is not normal, she said.
According to some estimates, there are more than 10,000 dogs in the valley, and the effect on the water and unique wildlife resources in the Jackson area is a priority for the Forest Service.

“We are going to protect those resources,” Merigliano said. “The tough thing for us is that responsible people could be punished for those who aren’t getting the message. Responsible use does make a difference.”

Currently, a group of local pet-owning advocates is pushing a campaign to make people aware of the need to have dogs under voice control or on a leash and to cleanup after them. However, the outcome is dependent on personal initiative taken by pet owners.
“The appropriate approach is respect and responsibility,” said Amy Romaine of PAWS, a non-profit, responsible pet ownership advocacy group. PAWS, together with the Forest Service, Friends of Pathways, and Parks and Recreation stock and maintain 60 Mutt Mitt stations, which contain plastic gloves to pick up after pets, and trash cans at area trailheads and parks. At the 16 Mutt Mitt stations that PAWS maintains, more than 100,000 bags were used in 2007 alone.

“There has been measurable success,” Romaine said.
As the Teton Pass Ambassador, Jay Pistono spends much of his time on the pass promoting responsible recreation. His position was created in 2007 with funding from local non-profits and the Wyoming Department of Transportation. Pistono said he saw more dogs, more skiers and a quicker turnover in the parking lot this year than in previous years. Based on his observations, between 35 to 40 percent of northbound hikers alone have at least one dog. Of that group, he estimates that 65 percent use the Mutt Mitts. Last year, he emptied the trash cans at the pass once a month. This year, Pistono said had to empty the cans every seven to 10 days.

Though a majority of pet owners do clean up after their dogs, some seem to ignore the need for responsibility, Pistono said. Pistono said they appear to have an attitude akin to “I got my dog ‘Rasta’ with me, he’s crapping on the trail and chasing skiers down Twin Slides ... it’s all cool!”

Joe Egolf, a valley resident and owner of Muzz and Jumbo, said he doesn’t want to be bothered picking up after his dogs while hiking the pass - but said he employs one of many alternatives.

“Have your dogs relieved before you get there,” he said. “I don’t go to the pass with my guts loaded and neither does my dog!”
“When you don’t have a lot of people, you don’t need a lot of rules,” said Jen Fox, a Wilson resident. Like many who take advantage of the nearby trails on Teton Pass, Fox said she wouldn’t be sad to see dogs banned from them and thinks that will ultimately be what has to happen.

While Merigliano makes clear the Forest Service sees any kind of ban as a last resort, it is not an inalienable right to take your dog in the forest.
“We put a lot of effort into patrolling the trails to get the word out,” she said.

Photo by Brigid Mander
Watch out where you go...

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