🐶 Walking my dog off-leash in the woods: can I or can’t I?
On the occasion of a walk in the woods, unleashing our pets can be tempting. But this seemingly small gesture can have a non-negligible impact on wildlife.
Throughout the year, it is imperative that dogs remain under the supervision of their master and not stray more than 100 meters.
In the spring, the regulations get tougher: from April 15 to June 30 each year, a ministerial order (current as of April 16, 2021) requires canine owners to keep their animals on a leash outside of forest paths. In case of non-compliance, the offender incurs a fine of up to 750 euros.
Forest aisle is understood in the broad sense as forest roads, paths or trails, including GR, but also all walking paths. On the other hand, forest partitions, firebreaks and parcel boundaries are not considered paths.
Check with local town halls as well, as trapping pests in hunting reserve areas may result in an annual ban (communal bylaw and depending on local Hunting Associations!)
Why such provisions?
It is at this precise time that mammalian denning and bird nesting begins. Equipped with an extremely sharp nose, dogs could easily spot newborns in forests and ground-nesting birds in open spaces (moors and wastelands). By their mere presence, they could disturb and stress the particularly sensitive forest animals during this period and thus jeopardize their reproduction. Another possible risk: stress of the female and modification of her behavior, abandonment of the reproduction site (nest for example or fawn if the disturbance is too strong, the doe may abandon the young).
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This measure aims to prevent the destruction of birds and other species of animals and to promote their repopulation. In addition, mayors can prohibit off-leash dogs in their municipalities and specific bans exist in protected areas such as nature reserves. In these cases, it is recommended that you find out more so as not to risk a fine and disturb wildlife.
