Thumb Butte

Operation: O.P.D.S.P begins today!
(Other People’s Dog S**t Patrol).
I’m getting my ass in shape, and instead of carrying my camera and taking such beautiful pictures to share with you all, I am carrying trash bags full of garbage and dog s**t off the mountain. Better to remove it before it rains or snows.
Leash your dogs, and pick up their waste. It pollutes our waterways. Take care of our trails.

Gorgeous hot day! There sure is a lot of dog f***s all over the trail. Perhaps pick up a few extra when you’re out. When it rains, all that p**p is rehydrated, and the whole mountain smells like a big wet dog poo, choking you as you hike, instead of petrichor in our beautiful wild spaces. Just clean up after your dog. Keep them leashed so you know where they go. Don’t be nasty humans.

Did you know… ?

Gorgeous days at the Butte.

…No cigarette butts, you get the picture?

Beautiful day in the neighborhood

Myth of the P**p Fairy

There is no p**p fairy, please clean up after your dog.

Flying undetected in parks, neighborhoods and schoolyards, she was said to follow close behind dogs and their owners, picking up what the dog left behind before flying off to the next canine creation. A widespread belief that she existed seemed to reassure some that cleaning up after one’s dog was optional.

In response to a growing number of p**p piles, and a growing number of citizen complaints, the THUMB BUTTE would like to bring you this public service announcement:

The Facts About Dog P**p

Dog P**p Doesn’t Biodegrade Like Wild Animal P**p

Because we feed our dogs food that’s different from the food wild animals eat, dog waste does not biodegrade quickly like wild animal waste. And due to the large number of pets in suburban neighborhoods and local parks, this hardy dog waste accumulates.

Dog P**p Contains Harmful Bacteria, Parasites

Dog waste can contain harmful organisms like E coli, Giardia, Salmonella, roundworms, hookworms, and Cryptosporidium. These can be passed on to you or your pet and may cause health problems.

Dog Waste Pollutes Groundwater, Water Bodies

Bacteria in dog waste can harm water quality in creeks and rivers and alter the ecosystems of these stream corridors. Humans who come in contact with creek water can also face health hazards.

One more thing, come monsoon season, all of that p**p all over Thumb Butte starts to smell just as strong as the day it was shat. Can’t even smell the wildflowers over all of that s**t.

How You Can Help

Please share this message with your friends and neighbors. Together, we can debunk the p**p fairy myth and clean up our trails.

***Dogs on leashes are far less likely to p**p all over the forest without anyone cleaning it up.

All sites in the following areas remain CLOSED today, 2/13/24: Lynx Lake, Thumb Butte, Granite Basin, Groom Creek, Mingus Mtn. and Alto Pit. PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK EMERGENCY ACCESS BY PARKING IN FRONT OF GATES! It is unsafe and illegal.