Recreating outdoors with your pet? Keep dogs on a leash so they don't chase or disturb wildlife

Salt Lake City — With warmer temperatures on the near horizon, many Utahns may start heading outside more frequently for outdoor recreation. However, if you are planning to take your dog on any hikes or camping trips this spring and summer, please make sure your pet doesn't chase or harass any wildlife.

Due to deep snow, Utah big game animals often struggle to find food during the winter. By early spring, many of these wildlife species are vulnerable and weak. Dogs that are off leash while in nature may act on their instincts to chase deer and other big game animals they see. However, that is harmful for the deer because by the end of winter, they are usually in survival mode.

"If they get chased — especially if it happens again and again — it uses up energy they may need to survive those sensitive times of year," Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Big Game Coordinator Dax Mangus said. "While we had a milder winter than last year, this is still a sensitive time of year for deer. Their fat storage is often depleted by this time of year, 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."

Deer and other big game animals typically move to lower elevations in search of feed during the snowy winter months, which often brings them closer to roads and other populated urban areas where people and pets may be.

National forests are some of the areas where people may encounter wildlife while recreating. While pets are allowed in all national forests, they must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet while in developed recreation areas (like campsites) and on established, interpretive trails. Most of the other areas within national forests do not require dogs to be on a leash, but they must be under the owner's control at all times.

"Pets allowed to run at large also are at risk from vehicles, mountain bikes, and other types of recreation use," Dave Whittekiend, forest supervisor for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest said. "If you care about your pets, you should keep them secured while you are recreating outdoors."

While there are many other areas throughout the state where dogs aren’t required to stay on a leash, pet owners should not let their dogs chase deer, elk, moose or other wild animals. It can be harmful not only for the wildlife, but also can be dangerous for your pet.

“Wildlife is often unpredictable and may injure or kill a dog seen as threatening,” Mangus said.

Dogs that are off leash can also disturb nesting ground birds and can chase, injure or kill small mammals, deer, elk or moose.

It is also in your best interest to not allow your pet to chase wildlife, because Utah law states that a person may kill or injure a dog that is "attacking, chasing or worrying any species of hoofed protected wildlife."

Here are some tips from Wild Aware Utah about keeping your dogs safe around wildlife:

• 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.