08/30/2026
Though this is for Lake Auburn watershed, it’s true for all watersheds.
💩Not all p**p is created equal!
One question we frequently get when discussing the dangers of pet waste to the drinking water source is the difference between dog waste and wild animal waste. If wild animals p**p in the woods, why does it matter that a dog does? There are some major differences between the two, however, primarily stemming from the animal's diet. In this post, we'll focus on nutrient pollution.
The diet of wild animals is limited to food already contained within their local environment. They eat plants, insects, and other animals that are all already in the watershed and surrounding areas. This means that the nutrients in wild animal waste are simply being cycled through the same area, operating within a relatively closed system.
Dog food, on the other hand, is generally made from ingredients that have been shipped from another place. When a dog's p**p is not picked up and properly disposed of, some of the nutrients from their food are added to the ecosystem, and many of those particles make their way into waterbodies through both surface and groundwater flow. The influx of nutrients into a body of water significantly impacts water quality, and can lead to algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and fish kills.
🐕Do your part to help protect Lake Auburn's drinking water from nutrient pollution by picking up after your pet!
