Three women posing with their buckets full of dog stool they have cleaned up.
Photo by Cassi Carpio, © Lake Champlain Committee.

April Stools' Day

We all know that April showers bring May flowers, but did you know that April showers can wash dog poop into our waterways?

Due to COVID-19, LCC is not able to host a lot of events this year but we are encouraging people to go out on their own to scoop the poop before spring rains create stormwater runoff that washes the dog doo into our waterways!

Whenever you have time, head out to your favorite park, trail or neighborhood with gloves, plastic bags and a sturdy trowel and help scoop the poop. Wear a safety vest if working near roadways. Pet poop should be deposited in the garbage along with any other trash you find during your outings.

You can use this form to share photos of your outing with LCC along with other information like the date, location, and details of your clean-up.

The Scoop on Dog Poop

Pet waste carries nutrients that feed the growth of weeds and algae in the water. EPA estimates that two or three days' worth of droppings from just 100 dogs contributes enough bacteria to temporarily close a waterbody to swimming and fishing. Woof-waste doesn't make good fertilizer; it burns grass and leaves unsightly discoloring. Infected pet poop can carry the eggs of roundworms and other parasites (like cryptosporidium, giardia, and salmonella) which can linger in soil for years. Anyone gardening, playing sports, walking barefoot, or digging in the infected dirt, risks coming into contact with those eggs. Children are most susceptible since they often play in the dirt and put things in their mouths.

April Stools' Day Event Gallery

Team Afecesanados gearing up. Photo by Lori Fisher.
NCAL HazMat Crew suited up and reporting for doodie. Photo by Lori Fisher.
The Super S---s and dog Stella get ready for clean-up. Photo by Lori Fisher.
Team Rescue the Poo has the moves to pick up the doo. Photo by Lori Fisher.
Team Rockstar makes the first delivery of nearly 15 pounds of dog doo. Photo by Lori Fisher.
Ani of Rusty Nail & Esbert from Image Outfitters weigh each bucket of doo. Photo by Lori Fisher.
Kristen from the Stowe Land Trust helps bag the haul from Team Afecesanados. Photo by Lori Fisher.
A volunteer gets into character. Photo by Lori Fisher.
Team Rescue the Poo after clean-up. Photo by Lori Fisher.
NCAL HazMat Crew recording their findings. Photo by Lori Fisher.
Post-poo clean-up dance party. Photo by Lori Fisher.
Team "Afecesanados" picked up 75 pounds of dog doo and the prize for the most stools collected. Photo by Lori Fisher.
NCAL Haz Mat Team shares the prize for best costume.

Click through the gallery above to see what folks have done for April Stools' Day events in the past. Volunteers in Stowe organized a costume party pick-up day complete with prizes (for both best costume and heaviest quarry of stools), and a post-event rock band and pizza party; LCC and local breweries coordinated community pick-ups along Burlington shoreline trails where we hid a “golden stool” and folks got prizes for the most stools; LCC and Sustainable Williston have had a longterm partnership picking up stools along town trails during on a spring weekend.

April Stools’ Days can be scaled up or down to suit community interest and style, but the most helpful thing to do is to get out there and scoop the poop before spring rains send them to our waterways--whether you through a party or just gather some friends and family on a trail walk with doggie bags. LCC encourages dog owners to "scoop the poop" right away as well.