Iowa Rant: I’m Sick of the ‘Eternal Poos’ Left on Trails!

I enjoy hiking. Whether it's wandering through the woods around Dubuque, checking out hidden gems across eastern Iowa, or exploring trails while traveling, there's nothing better than getting outside, unplugging, and enjoying nature with family. But then, not every experience on the trial is a fun one. Take for instance, dog poop; but not just a simple dog poop on the ground.

Simply put, there is one thing that absolutely drives me crazy, and I've finally given it a name: The Eternal Poo. I'm sure most of you know exactly what I'm talking about.

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Someone takes their dog for a hike. The dog does what dogs do. The owner responsibly pulls out a poop bag, picks it up, ties a nice little knot...and then leaves the bag sitting right beside the trail like some disgusting little present for the rest of us.

Credit: Tom Drake | An "Eternal Poo"

Why?

On our most recent family hike at Deer Dike Park in Dubuque, we counted five baggies of dog poop sitting right around the trailhead before we even really got started. Then we spotted another one farther down the trail. Unfortunately, this is never a weird, one-time occurrence. We've seen these "eternal poos" on trails near Bernard, in Cedar Rapids, throughout Wisconsin, and even while hiking in other states out West. I've even come across them now and again in-town and along sidewalks.

Apparently, this is a nationwide epidemic of abandoned poop bags.

Here's the part that makes the least sense to me. If someone is actually going to abandon their dogs loaf, it would be better if they hadn't bagged it at all. At least unbagged waste will eventually break down over time, even though it's still inconsiderate to those on the trail. But wrapping it in plastic and leaving it behind? Now you've created litter and preserved the poop like some awful science experiment of stank.

Credit: Tom Drake | Another "Eternal Poo"

Congratulations; you've made a poop time capsule. And when the sun comes out, you'll really bake in all that dog-brownie essence for the poor guy that has to clean it up later.

Most dog waste bags, especially the standard plastic ones, can take years to break down. Even many bags labeled "biodegradable" only decompose properly in commercial composting facilities, not while sitting beside a hiking trail baking in the Iowa sun. That means someone else eventually has to pick up your sealed little stink bomb. Nothing says "I love nature" quite like preserving dog poop in plastic for future generations.

Look, I understand hiking with dogs isn't always easy. They do what they do, but after that it's part of being a responsible pet owner. If you can carry a full water bottle into the woods, you can carry a tied-up poop bag back out. Nature doesn't need your plastic-wrapped souvenirs. And that statement goes double for the people that will leave the plastic water bottle, too!

So, here's my humble request to every dog owner hitting the trails: either pack it out like you're supposed to or at least don't pretend you're coming back for it when everyone knows you probably aren't. It's time to leave footprints; not "eternal poos."