Off-leash dogs killed a great blue heron at Arnold Arboretum
The Arnold Arboretum is a gem in Boston, filled with delicate wildlife and natural beauty – which is why dogs aren’t allowed off their leash at the park.
Last week, a great blue heron was killed by off-leash dogs in the Arboretum.
“A visitor noticed quite a large commotion by one of our ponds, and she witnessed a couple of dogs that had attacked the heron pulling it out of the pond,’’ said Jon Hetman, the Arboretum’s director of external relations and communications. “She didn’t see the owners.’’
The great blue heron is ranked as a “least concern’’ conservation status, and the park sees many of them come through. But this wasn’t just any heron, Hetman said.
“This particular heron, we see it a lot and we think of it as a resident,’’ he said. “We had taken a lot of pictures of it, there are photos of it on the info screens in the Visitor Center.’’
This isn’t the only issue the Arnold Arboretum has had with off-leash dogs.
“We’ve had complaints from members of the public about dogs being off leash,’’ Hetman said. “Incidents of kids being knocked off bikes, people’s leashed dogs being attacked by off-leash dogs, and then people in general feeling uncomfortable with dogs off leash.’’
Provided they follow the rules, Hetman said people of all ages and their furry companions are welcome to enjoy the park.
“In general most of the dog walkers who use the Arboretum are responsible,’’ he said. “We’re grateful for their presence and it’s good to have them in the landscape that’s open to the public.’’
Here’s a list of where you can let your dogs off-leash in Boston, and here’s a list where they can roam free in Massachusetts.
See some pups behaving themselves on Cape Cod:
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