September 13, 2015

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All dogs but one under reasonable control. As I walked south, I walked in the same direction as 4 other people, 2 of them, a couple, had 3 greyhounds with them, all off-lead. As I glanced at them, I saw one of the greyhounds chase after seagulls on the beach and into the surf. As I looked, I realized that the couple were encouraging and rewarding (w/a food treat and pats) the dog who'd chased the gulls. I walked over and asked them if they were aware that State Parks had passed a regulation banning harassment of wildlife on the beach, including seagulls, and so they might not want to train their dog to chase/harass the seagulls. Then I complimented them on picking up after their dogs. The man of the couple then leashed the greyhound who'd been chasing the birds. As far as I could tell (when I looked back), they didn't just wait for me to get further away and then encourage the dog to chase birds again but kept that greyhound leashed. This summer, there have been maybe 4 days, of all the days (about 3-4 days/week from March through into September) that I've walked on the beach when I have NOT seen someone's off-lead dog chasing plovers or seagulls. At least 4 times, I've seen people ENCOURAGING their dogs to chase plovers or seagulls or whatever birds (occasionally Common murres, usually looking unwell)--or their children to do so but never doing anything to stop their dog from harassing shorebirds. Some people keep their dogs busy and happy chasing balls, playing with them, etc., which is great. I've spoken to some of the people w/the bird-chasing dogs several times, using language similar to what I've written above.I'd like to see State Parks either find the money to fund more ranger patrols or to do more "education" (via social media, something) to somehow communicate to people that the shorebirds aren't there to amuse or tire out their dogs, the beach may be a stopover for some migrating birds, or it's how birds nesting on the headland and elsewhere get food for their young & themselves, etc. The birds need to be LEFT ALONE to live/feed/rest. They're not playthings for dogs or children-a substantial minority of people seem to believe they are. It's not okay for the birds to have to fly 70x/day because someone can't keep their badly trained dog on a leash and believes Oregon beaches are actually dog parks without any of those too too restricting rules that dogs parks sometimes have. I've seen off-lead dogs (or dogs being sicced on shore birds) chasing birds often on Miles 215-218 (March through early September), occasionally on Mile 220 during the same time period. I saw little litter in part of the beach I walked on. It was windy walking north on the way back but still a nice day to be on the beach.I was on the beach from 4:40 p.m. to 5:35 p.m. High tide at the HMSC, in South Beach on 09/13, was at 1:23 p.m., 7.9', low tide at 7:19 p.m., 1.1. The tide height I provided is an estimate--all I can say for sure is that the tide was still going out while I was on the beach.