Ground nesting season takes place across the county during the spring and summer months bringing the arrival of many migratory species.
The two charities say keeping dogs under control will help ensure that ground-nesting birds are not harmed during the breeding season.
Unsupervised dogs can cause birds to abandon their nests or can harm chicks.
James Herd, Director of Reserves Management at Surrey Wildlife Trust, says:
“We want everyone to enjoy Surrey’s fabulous wild places, and dog walkers with under-control dogs are always welcome on our sites. But as well as being illegal to disturb nesting birds, it’s good practice to minimise the impact your canine friends have on all wildlife.
“Keeping your dogs under control and making sure you clean up behind them keeps sensitive habitats safe from damaging disturbance and dangerous diseases like Neosporosis, which poses a serious risk of aborted pregnancies in our conservation grazing animals. Sadly, we’ve seen this twice already in the spring 2025 calving period.”
Dr Jenna Kiddie, Head of Canine Behaviour at Dogs Trust, says:
“When visiting rural areas, owners should keep their dogs under control and ensure they do not worry other animals or stray from the path, as well as dispose of their dog’s waste appropriately. We would advise keeping your dog on a short lead, and close to you, especially whenever livestock are nearby.
“It is important to remember that chasing is normal dog behaviour, and that any dog is capable of chasing, irrelevant of breed, type, age or size. We would encourage owners to explore training options such as the Dogs Trust’s Dog School.”
See www.wildlifetrusts.org/dogs-and-nature for more information about responsible dog walking.
