Leave it to the Dogs -- or should we?

Episode Hosts: Savannah Snell, Julia Wright, Caity Erickson Course Coordinators & Podcast Ringmasters: Colleen Duncan, Anna Fagre, Molly Carpenter, Treana Mayer Audio Engineer: Ethan Fagre Episode notes:  We, like many people, love walking our dogs off leash. It gives the dogs a lot more freedom and exercise than walking them on leash, plus we’re not getting pulled around by them or trying to keep them moving (especially when you have a Basset Hound like I do). As much as we love walking our dogs off leash, we realized we never really stopped to think about the impact of our dogs on the natural environments in which we walk them. What do prey species think about these carnivores coming into their homes? What do wild canid species think about dog scents in their territory? Join us as we explore the true impacts dogs have on wildlife in our communities and offer some great solutions for keeping these impacts to a minimum. Additional sources for listeners who want to learn more: Why leashing Dogs Is an Easy Way to Protect Birds and Their chicks Bad Dog- A new study examines the wildlife impacts of free-range canines Impacts of Dogs on Wildlife: Excerpts from Recent Research & Reviews 3 Reasons to Keep Your Dog on a Leash When You Are Out in Nature Hiking With Dogs: Tips For Hitting The Trail