It is increasingly common to enjoy nature with our dogs, such as when doing a section of the Tourdera. However, we must be aware of the drawbacks that bringing them off-leash can entail. This risk is especially concerning in protected natural spaces or areas with livestock activity, where incidents with herds or wildlife can occur. For this reason, entities like the Montseny Natural Park have launched a campaign to raise awareness about this growing problem.
Faced with the increase in visitors walking with their dogs off-leash in areas such as the Montseny Natural Park, the managers of the natural space warn that this situation harms the local wildlife by altering its behavior, as well as the massif’s livestock activity, and they are working to minimize its impacts. In addition to reinforcing signage, forest rangers carry out surveillance and awareness tasks. Furthermore, the Natural Park collaborates with town councils and competent administrations to impose sanctions. In general, these restrictions are especially necessary in:
- Grazing Areas: To protect both livestock activity and wildlife, it is essential that dogs be kept on a leash in these areas, as herds are very vulnerable to the presence of other animals. The contact of dogs with cows, goats, or sheep can generate stressful situations, causing abortions or accidents that, in some cases, can be fatal for the grazing animals.
- Signposted Paths: Likewise, it is recommended to keep dogs on a leash on marked trails, recreation areas, and spaces with a high influx of visitors to avoid conflicts with other users.
Not having the dog on a leash in these spaces can be considered an administrative offense and lead to sanctions according to the current municipal ordinances in various municipalities of the Montseny Natural Park. This restriction does not apply to shepherd dogs, which have the function of protecting and watching over the herds.
In addition, the Natural Park is developing a Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Livestock for the Montseny Biosphere Reserve and collaborates with municipalities and other bodies with sanctioning power, such as the Rural Agents. To ensure compliance with the regulations, forest rangers carry out surveillance and awareness tasks in areas where it is signaled that dogs must be on a leash.
To facilitate understanding of this problem, the Montseny Natural Park has created several informative videos with the aim of raising awareness on this issue. We hope you find them interesting and enriching!
