Let’s make one thing clear: at Beaver Creek we love dogs.
Many of our staff have dogs of 
their own, and we all appreciate a good pup. However,
we do not love when dogs are at Beaver Creek Reserve, because it’s against our
rules. It’s been a rule we’ve had for a very long time, and we will not be allowing
dogs at our trails any time soon. With the Coronavirus quarantine, we’ve had a
steady stream of people using our trails, which you’re welcome to do! Some of these visitors though are bringing their dogs along,
which we don’t want to see. Here are a few reasons why we don’t allow dogs on the
trails at Beaver Creek:
- They disturb the natural environment. Maybe you’re saying to
yourself “Well that’s not my dog. Floofy is a model of good behavior” Just because
you don’t see rabbits and birds running away from you and your dog in terror
does not mean that you are not disturbing nature. Regardless of whether your
dog is the local menace to squirrels everywhere, they are having an impact. Even
if they never catch that squirrel, chasing it up a tree still forces it to
expend energy fleeing for its life, an expense that may allow other predators
to catch them later on. Dogs are also leaving behind scents and scat. Both of
these things can affect wildlife behavior. If your dog likes to munch on
plants, or drink water from a puddle, they’re also directly competing with
wildlife by taking away resources that those animals need to survive. Dogs may
also be a vector for diseases that could be devastating to wild animals.
- Bringing your dog into the natural environment is a risk to
them and you. Your dog can be exposed to ticks and poison ivy in the woods and
pass those on to you. Even on a leash, they’re more likely to be digging their
faces in the bushes than you are. Lyme’s disease is a real threat to be
concerned about when you spend time in the woods, and in the Midwest, there are a variety of tick-borne illnesses that don’t even have names. And if you’ve never
had poison ivy, we promise you that’s not something you want to try even just
once.
- Not everybody likes dogs! Some people may be hiking the trails at Beaver Creek to listen to the birds and get away from the sound of barking dogs. Especially when we explicitly DO NOT ALLOW DOGS on our trails. When you visit Beaver Creek Reserve and enjoy our land and our facilities, we ask that you be respectful of other people’s experiences while here and follow our rules.
There are many places in Eau Claire County that offer hiking
trails and allow your dogs to be there on a leash. Consider taking a
hike at a County Park like Lowe’s Creek, Coon Forks, or Harstead. Or look towards
the multiple dog parks in the city of Eau Claire! Many state parks allow dogs on
leashes as well. We thank you for your understanding and respect for our rules.
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