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Mori K, Rock M, McCormack G, Liccioli S, Giunchi D, Marceau D, Stefanakis E, Massolo A. Fecal contamination of urban parks by domestic dogs and tragedy of the commons. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3462. [PMID: 36859468 PMCID: PMC9977951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30225-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Contamination of public parks by dogs is a potential source of conflict among park users, causing "tragedy of the commons" problems. Besides the social conflict, feces can pose serious health risks to both dogs and humans. In this study we analyzed the extent and patterns of the distribution of dog feces in the urban parks of the City of Calgary. We collected dog feces from randomly selected locations in the urban parks. The average density of dog feces by the different dog leash policies of the parks and the distribution pattern of the fecal density within the parks were assessed, and the total contamination of the public parks for the entire city was estimated. We found off-leash parks to be significantly more contaminated than other types of parks. We estimated 127.23 g/ha of dog feces are left unpicked in city parks in total every week. Dog feces were found more often and in greater amount in off-leash parks, and near park entrances and parking lots, than in on-leash parks and away from the park entrances. These results suggest that public park visitors, especially those visiting off-leash parks, are likely to be exposed to large amounts of dog feces. Designation of parks as on-leash and educating dog-owners may be an effective approach for reducing the fecal contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kensuke Mori
- grid.31432.370000 0001 1092 3077Graduate School of Human Development and Environment/Department of Human Environmental Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo Japan
| | - Melanie Rock
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB Canada
| | - Gavin McCormack
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB Canada
| | - Stefano Liccioli
- grid.451141.4Grasslands National Park, Parks Canada Agency, Val Marie, SK Canada
| | - Dimitri Giunchi
- grid.5395.a0000 0004 1757 3729Ethology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Danielle Marceau
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Geomatics Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB Canada
| | - Emmanuel Stefanakis
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Geomatics Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB Canada
| | - Alessandro Massolo
- Ethology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. .,Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. .,UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besancon, France.
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