Dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets are likely harming the environment and wildlife, according to a study.

New research by scientists suggests significant amounts of phosphorous and nitrogen found in dog faeces and urine left behind in nature reserves can result in over-fertilisation of the ground.

This can impact varieties of plant and animal life and interactions between species.

They called for bans or keeping canines on leads in sensitive areas – or alternative “nearby off-leash dog parks”, and highlighted the need for owners to pick-up poo after their pets.

“Dogs bring in significant amounts of nutrients into ecosystems, but this disturbance and its associated effects on biodiversity have been often neglected so far,” they said.

Researchers counted 1,629 dogs in peri-urban forests and nature reserves near Ghent in Belgium over the course of 18 months and estimated they were leaving an annual average of 11kg of nitrogen and 5kg of phosphorous per hectare, which they described as “substantial”.

The study, published in the journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence, said: “Dogs appear to be a non-negligible, substantial and underestimated source of nutrients into peri-urban ecosystems.”

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It continued: “It is clear that the levels of fertilisation by dogs estimated here can potentially exert negative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of species-rich vegetation that are often pursued in forest and nature management.

“Higher nutrient levels lead to increased plant growth, mostly by a limited number of nutrient-demanding species that will outcompete specialists, particularly by taking away the available light causing plant species loss.”

The scientists said that given the potentially high fertilisation rates by dogs in peri-urban ecosystems, nature reserve managers should consider taking the action they have suggested to protect the areas.

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