DOG BACKPACKS USED TO HELP SEED NATURE RESERVE

Dogs equipped with backpacks are being used to aid in rewilding a nature reserve in East Sussex. The specially designed pouches dispense wildflower seeds as the dogs explore during their daily walks.

The pilot program, run by the Railway Land Wildlife Trust in Lewes, seeks to mimic the behavior of wolves, which once roamed Britain before becoming extinct around 1760.

Project manager Dylan Walker noted that the dogs cover four times the distance that humans do and reach areas of the nature reserve that are more difficult to access.

“We’re thrilled about this project; it’s all about involving dogs and their walkers in nature conservation on the reserve,” said Dylan.

“If we went back 1,000 years, we’d see wolves, and possibly bears, bison, wild boar, and wild horses roaming the landscape. These animals had a positive impact on the ecosystem.

“Our small urban nature reserve limits our ability to reintroduce these animals, but we do have a proxy for wolves—our domesticated dogs.

“We wondered if we could use our dog walkers and their dogs to help regenerate the reserve. Historically, wolves and other animals would carry seeds from different places on their fur.

“The dogs wear packs with holes in them, allowing seeds to drop from the satchels as they run. We hope to see the results by next spring.”

Railway Land Nature Reserve is a compact 25-acre site bordered by a railway line and the River Ouse.

Steve Lewis and his dog, Crumble, were among the volunteers participating in the project. He noted, “Some dogs took to it better than others. The larger dogs seemed to enjoy wearing the backpacks, and you could easily track their paths.”