- Hiking trails are filling up as temperatures rise in Salt Lake City.
- The Division of Wildlife Resources urges keeping dogs leashed to protect wildlife.
- Unleashed dogs can harm deer by depleting their energy reserves during spring.
SALT LAKE CITY — With the months beginning to warm up, hiking trails and other recreating areas are going to start filling up. The Division of Wildlife Resources wants to make sure you keep wildlife and your pets safe.
If you plan to take your dog with you to an established hiking or camping ground, be sure keep it on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Most other areas don't require dogs on leashes; however, they must be under the owner's control at all times.
It's not only out of courtesy for those around you, but for vulnerable wildlife emerging from the winter months when food is more scarce.
"If deer get chased — especially if it happens again and again — it uses up energy reserves they may need to survive these sensitive times of year," Utah Division of Wildlife Resources big game coordinator Mike Wardle said. "While we had a fairly mild winter this year, this is still a tough time of year for deer. Their fat storage is often depleted by now, and they often can't afford to waste energy. If you or a pet force them to move away from where they are trying to feed, it could be harmful for that animal."
Typically moving to lower elevations to find vegetation this time of year, deer and other big game are closer to roads and other populated areas where pets may be — increasing the odds of encounters.
While precautions are in place to protect animals, these measures protect pets just as equally.
"Wildlife is often unpredictable and may injure or kill a dog seen as threatening," Wardle said.
To keep your pets safe around wildlife, here are some tips from Wild Aware Utah:
- Keep your dog's vaccinations up to date.
- Be aware that moose can be especially aggressive toward dogs.
- Always supervise pets when outdoors, particularly at dawn and dusk.
- If you find an animal carcass, leave the area — it could be a kill that a cougar is guarding or will be returning to.
- Make noise while hiking.
- Do not allow dogs to "play with" or chase wildlife. It is against Utah law to allow dogs to chase or harass hoofed wildlife.
