About this Event
A...what?
A PoopBlitz!
...try again.
A bioblitz is an event where volunteers, scientists, naturalists, and more focus on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time.
In this case, we are collecting locations and photos of dog waste, both bagged and unbagged, across the Fells, hence, a PoopBlitz!
Ok, yes, maybe we could have been more creative with the name...
But why collect data on dog poop?
Why not!?
Kidding! This data will serve a few purposes:
- It gives us a solid understanding of how much dog waste is present in the Fells at one time. If we can communicate how much dog waste is in the Fells at once, we hope to communicate how important it is to pick up after your pet. It is not just your dog pooping in the woods and leaving it; it is a lot of people's.
- It lets us know where there are heavier concentrations of dog waste, so that we can take appropriate action. Like what? Check out our pilot pet waste stations project here.
- Want to learn more? Like, why is dog waste unhealthy for the Fells ecosystem? Check out Earthwise Aware's webpage here.
What will you do?
Using this page, you'll sign up for your preferred starting point in the Fells. Then you'll arrive on April 18th and meet with the volunteer leader who will be in charge of your small group. At this location, you'll use Earthwise Aware's Trail Report app to collect data on dog waste.
Please bring a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, your own reusable water bottle, and a snack, if you would like one. We recommend wearing sturdy shoes, warm gloves, long sleeves, long socks, layers, and pants. Traction for shoes (microspikes or crampons) is also recommended when snow or slippery conditions are present. Hopefully, we'll be clear of any snow by April 18th, but you never know!
Please note that there are often no restrooms at the various starting points. A cellphone that can take photos and download the is required to participate in this volunteer activity.
Additional instructions will be sent to you before April 18th. We will ask volunteers to remove bagged dog waste using FOF-provided trash bags, gloves, and DCR-provided trash grabbers, if they feel comfortable. That way, we can record the data and remove the waste to help the Fells in two ways.
Does this mean you don't like dogs?
NO. We love our canine companions and we love seeing them enjoy the Fells. We also love responsible pet ownership, because that allows the Fells to continue to exist with all its biodiversity, various habitat, wildlife, and forested landscapes that both humans and dogs enjoy. There is a way to enjoy the Fells with your dog while protecting it. We hope that this campaign will help us educate pet owners about the impact of domesticated animals on our wild space, so that we can all do better. The Be Kind! campaign outlines how you can help!
Wait, what is the Be Kind! campaign?
The initiative is a public positive behavior campaign designed to give back to the park and protect the Fells for our human and wildlife users.
- Listen for other people on trails and make space to pass
- Keep dogs leashed outside of designated off-leash areas
- Leave no trace of litter or waste
- Stay on trails - on foot, paw, or bike
More questions?
Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.
Own a pup of your own?
Join us on our Middlesex Mutts walks! Our next one is on April 23rd, which you can learn more about and register for here.
Please note: Emails from Eventbrite may end up in your spam folder. Please check your spam folder if you have registered for the waitlist to ensure that you are receiving the email notifications. We also suggest removing Eventbrite from your spam sender list.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Various locations, Middlesex Fells, Medford, United States
USD 0.00
