Literally.
Our neighborhood connects to a bike trail, and someone keeps pooping just off to the side of the trail.
Not only is this gross on principle, but many of the dogs that walk along the trail (ours included) really like to eat this poop. We are not always able to notice the poop before our dog gets to it.
At first we thought it was a big dog, but it's been revealed that it's a person. I am about 80% certain I know who it is. We know somebody who definitely knows who it is, but the wife or I have chatted with him since the revelation of the phantom pooper. The person who definitely knows the pooper is a really nice guy and probably better at calm conversations than I am.
The guy poops on the grass next to the trail, on the trail itself. He brings wipes which he leaves discarded along the trail, so there is some level of premeditation.
Not certain how best to handle a serial trail pooper...
In reply to Beer Baron :
Seems what they are doing is illegal. So ask the cops what to do.
mtn
MegaDork
3/26/23 11:09 a.m.
Post signs saying this area under camera surveillance?
Set up a motion sensor with an alarm and flashing lights?
Release a bunch of snakes in the area?
Time for a trail cam. Send the video to the pooper and tell them to stop or it goes on Instagram
Involve the authorities. Anyone conducting themselves in this manner is not right in the head.
Transplant poison ivy and dig a couple pungee pits.
If you know who it is, bag it up and decorate his house with it.
My wife has brought this up the attention of park service. Not sure what they can/will do.
Park service said not to put up trail cameras because they will just end up taking them down themselves.
Hesitant to point a finger at this individual until we're more certain it's him. (Lots of signs point to him.)
Driven5
UberDork
3/26/23 12:05 p.m.
Have you considered bluffing with him? Find a way to strike up a conversation with the guy as if you have no idea it might be him, neighborhood gossip "Hey, didja hear?..."style. Tell him that you and some of the other neighbors are working with the park service, that they've already involved the cops because it's breaking numerous laws of endangering the welfare of people and animals and will have surprisingly serious legal consequences, that they've already narrowed it down to a few suspects that they haven't told you, but are in the process of setting up some kind of surveillance that they're also not specifying to you around the area to get a final positive ID and arrest the culprit, and that it sounds like jail time will probably be involved.
He may call your bluff, but you'll still have options to escalate too.
johndej
SuperDork
3/26/23 12:16 p.m.
Post some of these nearby?
Beer Baron said:
My wife has brought this up the attention of park service. Not sure what they can/will do.
(clip for reference because the pic is not great https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=271529957067700)
Put up an outhouse?
Maybe the guy can't hold it long enough to make it home. The trail networks tend to be devoid of toilet facilities.
put up a game cam , just check it often and pull it down or move it every few days
if the park rangers have to pull it down , well they have to find it first ! Just tell them you are checking for "bears"
good luck
I wouldn't want to put up a trail cam, personally, because I wouldn't want to see the photo/video footage.
My first thought was one of those cheapo harbor freight motion-activated, garden shed/security lights.
If it's happening at night, this ought to curb the behavior (I'd sure hope). It's both literally illuminating the behavior and sending a "We know you're doing this here" message to the malfeasant defecator. Even if nobody's watching, hopefully that would be enough.
Beware...it may just make the perp relocate the unwanted behavior. So keep that in mind.
A conspicuous, non-functional trail camera could do the trick as well. Or one of those dummy surveillance cameras.
Someone left a unbelievably long turd outside the house I rented in Charlotte one time. I knew it was human thanks to the paper towel beside it they used to wipe. I've never felt and and also felt more violated. Nothing like having to clean up human E36 M3.
Like others said, call the police. If they don't do anything call again. And then call again. This man's behavior is troubling and inexcusable.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
Put up an outhouse?
Maybe the guy can't hold it long enough to make it home. The trail networks tend to be devoid of toilet facilities.
The poop is most concentrated on the trail head connecting our street to the main creek trail. So 100-200 yards from the guy's front door. The furthest I've seen poop is about 3/4 of a mile.
I like the "trail pooper" signs too. Once he's confirmed as the pooper, start with anonymously mailing him a small one. If and as the behavior continues, keep increasing the size and publicity of them until it's putting a 4x8 version in his front yard.
Edit: Watch out for doorbell cams.
Beer Baron said:
My wife has brought this up the attention of park service. Not sure what they can/will do.
Park service said not to put up trail cameras because they will just end up taking them down themselves.
Hesitant to point a finger at this individual until we're more certain it's him. (Lots of signs point to him.)
The park service has no power to do anything. Contact the police. Call and complain every time you see it. It's clearly illegal dumping.....
With any luck, it catches his Kiwis.
What would Dan Mathews do?
Undercover stakeout.
They talk about jogging poopers a lot on the local radio morning show. They have termed it "malicious fecal distribution".
