Winter is Coming: How to Manage Dog Waste in the Snow, Sleet, and Ice

Niko Deaugustine23 Oct, 2025Home & Garden

Winter hides problems rather than solving them. Dog waste buried in powder resurfaces during the thaw, sending bacteria and nutrients into gutters and streams. That surge undermines water quality and can feed algal blooms, which is why consistent dog poop clean up matters even when sidewalks are slick and daylight is short. Experts point to pet waste as a source of bacteria and nutrients that wash into waterways with rain and snowmelt. Cities and homeowners reduce that load by removing waste promptly and disposing of it correctly.