“Keep your dog on a lead” is the call this spring and summer

Exmoor National Park Authority is reminding people who are heading for the great outdoors of the need to keep dogs on a short leads during the ground nesting bird breeding season which runs from the 1 March to 31 July.

Under legislation brought in by the Countryside and Rights Way Act 2000, dog owners are required to keep their dogs on leads on all access land during this sensitive time to help prevent disturbance to populations of nationally rare ground nesting birds. A number of signs have been placed at entrances to particularly sensitive areas and a ‘Dog Walkers Welcome’ leaflet has been produced to encourage responsible dog ownership when visiting the National Park.

James Maben, Exmoor National Park Authority Access Officer said: “The unimproved grassland and heather moor on Exmoor are the prime breeding habitats for populations of nationally rare and sensitive ground nesting birds such as snipe and curlew . People do not always realise that their free roaming dogs can easily disturb ground nesting birds which can lead to eggs not hatching or chicks being taken by predators whilst unguarded by their parents . We hope that dog owners will help us to protect these sensitive bird populations on Exmoor by keeping their dogs on a lead and keeping to defined tracks and paths between 1st March and 31st July”.

The leaflet produced by Exmoor National Park Authority can be viewed at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk or can be found in National Park Centres or by calling 01398 322173.