As the weather gets warmer, we love seeing all of the visitors at the park, including our 4-legged friends! We know that it can be tempting to let your furry friend roam free of their leash to get some exercise, but we ask that you resist the temptation for the sake of the park. This simple action protects wildlife, maintains the natural beauty of the park, and ensures a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors (including yourself!)
Protect Wildlife
Ney Nature Center is first and foremost a 446-acre nature preserve. Meaning that we prioritize the preservation of the park before our visitors or even our education programs. The park is home to all kinds of animals, from birds to deer, amphibians to reptiles. When dogs roam off-leash, they can unintentionally disturb or harm these animals by chasing them, disturbing nests, and trampling delicate habitats. By keeping your dog on a leash, you are helping us preserve the chance for wildlife to thrive in the park free of stress or disturbance.
Maintaining the Plants and Trails
Unleashed dogs are more likely to stray off designated trails than those on leash, damaging native plants and contributing to soil erosion (actually, you can do the same by going off-trail). Many parts of our park are carefully maintained by staff and volunteers to preserve specific species or the landscape. When we introduce a furry friend that is stepping on species, digging up dirt, or creating new trails themselves, that preservation work can be set back in its progress or destroyed entirely.
Courtesy for Other Park Guests
“No one else is here!” Well maybe not in the parking lot you are parked in or at the time you arrive, but people come and go frequently. Not all visitors are comfortable around dogs, event friendly ones. Some people have allergies, phobias, or simply prefer to enjoy the trails without being approached unexpectedly. That does not even include when other guests have their own dogs that may not be as friendly as yours.
As someone who has had many reactive (non-friendly) dogs in my life, while your dog may be friendly, please keep in mind that other people’s dogs may not be. It only takes a split second of either dog feeling threatened or on edge for there to be an attack, and if even one dog isn’t leashed, it can be hard to separate them without getting hurt yourself. Protect yourself and your dog by putting them on a leash.
Leash rules aren’t for fun, they are regulations for a reason. If you didn’t know why before, now you know! Just like you, we love seeing happy, panting dogs on hikes in the park, so help us continue to allow 4-legged guests by leashing up every time you are at Ney Nature Center. Protect wildlife, preserve plants and trails, and be courteous to other guests, all just by using a leash! A simple act with a big impact.
Where can you take your dog instead to run around? Check out the following nearby:
– Le Sueur Dog Park
– Belle Plaine Dog Park
– New Prague Dog Park
– Lonsdale Dog Park
– Saint Peter Dog Park
– Thompson Dog Park (Saint Peter)
– Sniffspot (Private Dog Park Rentals)