Pick up the poo: Arizona park rangers to use flags to point out irresponsible dog owners
Apr 29, 2016, 5:30 AM
(KTAR Photo/Mike Sackley)
PHOENIX — For those who often hike Quartz Ridge trail at Piestewa Peak, you might notice some small yellow flags scattered among the rocks.
Park rangers and volunteers place the flags in every spot of the trail where they spot dog poop that has not been picked up by pet owners.
This week, two dozen flags have been placed in just the first quarter mile of the 1.7-mile trail.
Phoenix park ranger Jessica Ducharme said avoiding dog poop can be tough for hikers.
“It can be very difficult, especially where the trail narrows,” she said. “If at the same time you’re trying to avoid a pile of smelly, nasty dog waste, it kind of ruins the experience.”
That is part of the reason the flags are placed along the trail, in order to help hikers. Ducharme said she also believes the high amount of flags are a wake-up call to dog owners who don’t clean up after their pet.
“Our message to dog owners is that they need to pick up the dog waste,” she said. “They have to put it in a plastic bag and take it with them.”
She added dog owners should not put the waste in a plastic bag and then leave it on the trail for someone else to pick up later.
Plastic bags are available at the Quartz Ridge trailhead near 32 Street. and Lincoln Drive.
The flags will be at Piestewa Peak the rest of the week and then will move to another Phoenix park to raise awareness for dog owners to clean up after their pet.