Late winter's rising temperatures can bring out the worst in the yards of dog owners, especially when melting snow reveals piles of dog doo-doo making their spring debut.
While poo can be out of sight and out of mind during winter, once it's visible it should be removed, said Sarah Bhimani, Animal Humane Society communications strategist. Leaving it sit can be harmful to your dog, you and the environment.
"Make sure you're picking up the poo in the first place. That's the most important thing," Bhimani said. "Do it promptly so it doesn't pile up."
A yard littered with waste can put stress on your pooch. It also can cause health problems for humans by spreading diseases like E. coli, according to Hannah Sabroski, communications specialist at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The waste also carries diseases, bacteria and nutrients that can pollute local waters, making them unusable for swimming, boating or fishing.
"When dog poo runs off into the storm sewers, it ends up running untreated into rivers, wetlands and ponds," said Bhimani. "All the bacteria and nutrients and that leads to algae blooms and scum on the surface of water — that's why you want to avoid letting it run off and pick up [the poop] in the moment."
She also advises people with vegetable gardens to create a space where their dogs can defecate well away from any home-grown foods.
MPCA recommends not commercially composting dog poop, placing waste in at-home compost bins or burying it, again because of the spread of diseases and bacteria.