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State wildlife officials urge Glynn County to tighten beach leash rules to protect nesting shorebirds
Summary
A Georgia DNR wildlife manager told Glynn County commissioners that vague 'voice control' exceptions and limited enforcement have left St. Simons Island East Beach unusually exposed to dog disturbance, and recommended clearer leash rules and seasonal exclusions for key nesting areas.
Tim Keis, program manager, Wildlife Conservation Section, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, told Glynn County commissioners on April 15 that shorebirds nesting on St. Simons Island’s East Beach are vulnerable to disturbance from off-leash dogs and that the county’s leash ordinance language allowing "voice control" is difficult to enforce.
"There's a combination of both," Keis said when asked where birds nest. "The nesting birds are in the dry sand dunes up above the mean high tide line because those eggs can't flood." He said foraging birds also use the water's edge and Goulds Inlet, and that many shorebird species present on East Beach incubate eggs or brood chicks for 25 to 35 days, a highly vulnerable period.
Keis said the DNR raised concerns while the county sought a Shore Protection Act permit for a Coast Guard Beach renovation project and that protecting nesting shorebirds is part of the agency’s review. He cited documented local impacts, including oystercatcher chicks killed by dogs on Little Tybee and a past incident of dogs entering a colony and killing least terns and black skimmers.
Keis summarized scientific findings on disturbance: he cited a Virginia Tech study that found higher piping plover mortality on beaches with heavy dog and human traffic, and referenced tagging studies showing the importance of Georgia and South Carolina as refueling areas for red knots during migration. He said red knot numbers can reach up to about 2,000 in Goulds Inlet depending on food availability and that statewide counts reach into the tens of thousands in migration seasons.
Keis recommended clarifying the ordinance to require leashes in areas where enforcement is feasible and considering spatial or temporal exclusions—seasonal dog bans or closed areas—at the most critical nesting sites. He said simple leash rules are easier to enforce than a "verbal control" standard and urged formation of a local task force to draft ordinance changes with DNR input.
Commissioners and others asked about enforcement options and law enforcement support. Keis said DNR law enforcement has helped with targeted closures in the past but is limited and could not commit to routine patrols. Commissioners noted public education, signage at beach access points and a possible task force as near-term steps.
No ordinance change or formal county action was adopted during the meeting; DNR requested the county consider ordinance revisions and possible seasonal or spatial restrictions.
