Dogs, us, and wildlife – what could go wrong?

For millennia dogs have been by our sides, keeping us company through thick and thin. Bred from their ancestors, wolves, they kept us safe from predators and helped us hunt our prey. As our societal structures have evolved, so too have dogs physically. Today, dogs bred for specific purposes, whether it be guarding our homes or providing companionship, come in all shapes and sizes.

Despite their varying appearance to us, a dog is still perceived as a wolf by many native species. Sometimes justified, as many dogs, due to instinct, will have a built-in desire to chase wildlife. This is not to say that all dogs pose a threat to wild animals, but they simply can’t tell the difference. Therefore, their presence alone can cause heightened stress for wild animals, especially prey species. This can have knock-on effects in terms of feeding, breeding and nesting behaviours.

The less direct impacts

While heightened stress on animals may be an obvious impact, there are other less obvious problems posed by dogs. One being trampling of vegetation, particularly by the edge of streams, ponds, or lakes. While not an issue exclusively caused by dogs (humans and livestock do this too), as many dogs adore water – it is a recurring issue in many nature reserves, parks and along rivers. Lots of wildlife relies heavily upon bankside vegetation – from dragonflies and damselflies, to newts, frogs, and toads.

One further, unseen and largely unknown impact of our dogs entering rivers and water bodies is the impact of their flea treatments on freshwater invertebrates. Research conducted in 2020 found fipronil, a deadly nerve agent, in 99% of samples taken from 20 rivers across the country. This pesticide is highly effective in killing insects and is having a devastating impact on our freshwater invertebrates.

Furthermore, the repeated disturbance caused by dogs in ponds, lakes and stretches of river can result in dramatic changes in the water quality and structure of vegetation, which ultimately leads to a loss of wildlife.

To limit these impacts, we advocate the use of ‘sacrificial’ zones for dogs to enjoy water bodies or rivers. These could be stretches of rivers or streams specifically used by dogs or ponds that are dedicated as splash zones, while others remain wildlife havens.