Reminders for dog owners visiting Lakeshore Nature Preserve

We love our dogs, so it’s no wonder that we want to include them in our free time and recreational pursuits. Dogs are welcome in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve — one of the few natural areas in Madison where they are — but please always remember: Dogs must be on leash and under the control of their owners at all times, and owners must pick up after their dogs. Following these two simple rules ensures that everyone — dogs and humans — can continue to enjoy the Preserve.

Why do I have to keep my dog on a leash?

Protect Your Dog: It is safer for your dog to be on leash, to avoid a host of potential issues. Those include: herbicides, live traps used for wildlife research, dead animal carcasses, bee nests, and wildlife — including ticks that carry disease, poison ivy, burs and sticktights.

Resource Protection: The preserve is an outdoor laboratory for active university research. When dogs run off trail, they disturb research plots, trample native plants, spread weed seeds and destroy habitat for wildlife. Dogs are carnivores by instinct and can cause serious harm to small animals and ground-nesting birds. Allowing dogs to roam off leash reduces the chance to observe wildlife for you and others. It also makes picking up your dog’s waste more difficult.

Public Safety: Many people of all ages and different cultures are actually very fearful of dogs. All people should feel safe and welcome in public spaces. Loose dogs ruin the trail experience for many people, even fellow dog walkers and their pets. All dogs can bite if surprised or provoked. You will be liable if your dog injures another dog or visitor.

Lists of nearby off-leash areas from City of Madison Parks, Dane County Parks, City of Middleton.