The SouthCoast region has so many great hiking, biking, and walking trails that are going to waste – literally.

Many area trails are pet friendly, allowing dog owners to bond with their animals in the great outdoors rather than Rover being cooped up in the house while his humans are out enjoying nature.

That's a good thing for both.

Dartmouth Hiking Trails Becoming Littered With Dog Waste
DNRT Ocean View Farm Reserve
loading...

Too often, pet owners fail to clean up after their furry friends while in the wild, creating an unsightly and potentially unhealthy problem for others.

The Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) recently posted a message on its Facebook page lamenting the conditions some pets and their humans are leaving for others.

Dartmouth Hiking Trails Becoming Littered With Dog Waste
Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust
loading...

"While out at DBW (Destruction Brooks Woods), our Land Steward used the Poo-lution app to track how many piles of dog waste were left on the trails," the post states. "She found 42!"

"Please, folks, pick up after your dog. Don't ruin the hiking experience for others. We don't like looking at it and we certainly don't like stepping in it," DNRT posted.

Dartmouth Hiking Trails Becoming Littered With Dog Waste
Barry Richard/Townsquare Media
loading...

DNRT posted an article to its website in February 2022 asking pet owners to better control their dogs while walking on its trails. Author Leah McFarland cited "an increase in irresponsible dog walking" reminding dog owners and walkers that they are "legally responsible for their dog's behavior while on DNRT reserves."

There are specific "Dog Rules" and some restrictions for DNRT properties that are posted on the DNRT website. There are also some helpful phone numbers should there be an incident involving an animal.

I would hate to see the DNRT have to ban dogs from its properties, so perhaps folks could cooperate with the rules and clean up after their animals.

RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds

Does your loyal pup's breed make the list? Read on to see if you'll be bragging to the neighbors about your dog's intellectual prowess the next time you take your fur baby out for a walk. Don't worry: Even if your dog's breed doesn't land on the list, that doesn't mean he's not a good boy--some traits simply can't be measured.

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

Why do cats have whiskers? Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? And answers to 47 other kitty questions:

Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? Why do they have whiskers? Cats, and their undeniably adorable babies known as kittens, are mysterious creatures. Their larger relatives, after all, are some of the most mystical and lethal animals on the planet. Many questions related to domestic felines, however, have perfectly logical answers. Here’s a look at some of the most common questions related to kittens and cats, and the answers cat lovers are looking for.

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

More From WFHN-FM/FUN 107