114 Pounds Of Puppy Waste Collected In Medford Fells For Study

MEDFORD, MA — More than 100 pounds of dog waste were documented across the Middlesex Fells Reservation during a recent data collection effort, according to Friends of the Fells.

Staff and volunteers with the nonprofit gathered at various locations in the Fells for a two-hour event they called a “PoopBlitz" in which volunteers, scientists, and naturalists work together to document biodiversity in a specific area by collecting the fecal matter.

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For two hours, nine volunteers documented 152 instances of dog waste across the reservation, with a total weight of approximately 114 pounds. Less than 25 percent of the waste recorded was bagged. Friends of the Fells said that volunteers properly disposed of all pre-bagged waste.

“The persistent problem of dog waste litter in the Fells is widespread and has severe ecological consequences,” Maddie Morgan, Friends of the Fells field programs manager, said in a statement. “Dog waste is high in nutrients that can alter soil and water chemistry, and diseases can spread to both pets and wildlife through waste.”

In the past year, Friends of the Fells has installed two pilot pet waste stations on trails near Greenwood Park and Bellevue Pond due to the prevalence of dog waste in those areas. The pet waste station project was established in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation as part of the “Be Kind!” public awareness campaign, which shares ways to protect state parks and keep them safe and welcoming for visitors and pets.

The organization said it plans to use data from the collection event and other collection efforts to determine where future pet waste stations are most needed.

Friends of the Fells is a nonprofit that promotes the conservation, appreciation, and sustainable enjoyment of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, a more than 2,000-acre state park that spans throughout Medford, Malden, Melrose, Winchester, and Stoneham.

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