Spring dog poop cleanup: what the snow was hiding (and how to clear it)

Every Michigan thaw ends with the same reveal. The snow pulls back, and there it is: everything your dog left since the first big storm, all at once, right where you walk. Here's why it pays to move fast, how to handle it yourself, and when to hand it off.

Why clean up dog poop as soon as the snow melts?

Because the thaw is when the backlog starts to travel. Meltwater and spring rain carry what's on the lawn toward the storm drains, the kids head back outside, and the grass underneath is trying to wake up.

Snowmelt is runoff

When rain and melting snow run over roofs, roads and even turf grass, they become stormwater runoff, and the Clinton River Watershed Council lists pet waste among the pollutants that runoff picks up. Clinton Township puts it plainly: when snow melts, the water flows untreated through storm drains into local rivers, lakes and streams. All 475 county drains eventually carry storm water to Lake St. Clair, according to Macomb County Public Works.

The EPA calls pet waste a leading source of bacteria and nutrient pollution in urban streams. A whole winter's worth is a lot to send downstream at once. Here's where it all goes.

Kids and dogs are back outside

The CDC says dog poop should be picked up even in your own yard, and especially where children may play. Roundworm eggs from dog poop can survive in the environment for months or even years, the CDC adds, and they need 2 to 4 weeks outside to develop enough to cause infection. The same page says pet waste should be picked up daily. If you're worried about anyone's health, human or canine, ask your doctor or your veterinarian. More on dog poop and kids.

Your lawn needs the light

A pile left on the grass smothers the turf beneath it. University of Illinois Extension notes that the dead spot it leaves behind invites weeds. The sooner the piles come up, the sooner that patch can catch up with the rest of the yard.

When does the thaw usually hit in Macomb County?

Often in stages. Snow keeps coming through March, and even a little in April, so plan on more than one cleanup pass.

The National Weather Service's 1991–2020 normals for Detroit show about 45 inches of snow a season, with January (14.0 inches) and February (12.5 inches) the snowiest months. March still averages 6.2 inches, and April 1.5. March's average low sits below freezing at 28.6°F, while April's average high climbs to 58.7°F.

So do a first pass as soon as the lawn shows through, then a second one after the last snow melts. Whatever was hiding under the final crust shows up on its own schedule.

How do you clean up a winter's worth of dog poop yourself?

Gear up, pick a dry day, and work the yard in strips so nothing gets skipped.

What you need

• A scooper. A rake-and-pan set covers grass quickly. A flat shovel or garden trowel helps with piles frozen to the ground.
• Sturdy bags, plus a bucket or small lidded can to carry them around the yard.
• Gloves you can toss or wash, and boots you can hose off.
• Soap and water for afterward. The CDC says to wash your hands after contact with dog poop, even if you used a bag.

Step by step

1. Go early. Firm piles lift more cleanly than piles the rain has softened.
2. Start where people walk: the path from the back door, the patio, the play set.
3. Walk a grid. Cover the lawn in strips a stride or two wide, back and forth like mowing. Then check the corners, the fence line, mulch beds, and under decks and shrubs.
4. Bag as you go. Tie each bag closed, and double-bag the heavy ones.
5. Put the bags in your outdoor trash can.
6. Clean up. Rinse the tools, hose off your boots and wash your hands.
7. Check again after the next melt or a hard rain. More will surface.

Where should the bags go?

In the trash. The Macomb County Health Department wants pet waste cleaned up routinely and thrown in the garbage.

Two places it shouldn't go: the compost pile, which University of Illinois Extension says should never get dog waste, and anywhere near a ditch or storm drain. Macomb County Public Works asks residents to keep pet waste away from both, because waste left behind washes through them to local lakes and streams.

How do you fix the dead spots?

Rake them out now, and save the big repairs for later in the year. University of Illinois Extension suggests raking out the dead grass and opening up the soil for overseeding. It also notes that overseeding, fertilizing and core aeration go best in late summer to early fall for cool-season grasses. Until then, the job is keeping new piles off the lawn.

When is a one-time spring cleanup worth it?

When the backlog is bigger than your weekend. A one-time cleanup makes sense if:

• The yard went all winter without a scoop, or you have more than one dog.
• It's a big lot. On acreage in Bruce Township, the melt can uncover a lot of ground at once.
• You're hosting a graduation party, listing the house or moving out.
• You'd simply rather spend the first nice Saturday some other way.

A one-time cleanup starts at $133 for one dog on a yard up to a quarter acre. Each extra dog adds $28, and a bigger yard or a longer backlog adds to the price. Price it online in about 30 seconds.

We walk the whole yard in a grid, corners, mulch beds and fence line included. Everything gets double-bagged into your outdoor trash can, or leaves with us if you add haul-away. We latch the gate and text you a gate-check photo, and our tools and boots are disinfected between yards. Missed a spot? Tell us within 24 hours and we come back free.

How do you keep the yard clean after spring?

Scoop on a schedule, so next spring has nothing to reveal. Weekly service is $19 a visit for one dog on a yard up to a quarter acre, about $82 a month. Every-other-week and twice-a-week plans are there too, and here's how often to scoop for your crew.

You don't need to book a cleanup and a plan. Start a plan and the first visit clears the backlog, free. After that, we keep coming all winter. We scoop in rain and cold, pick up whatever is above the snow, and catch up when it melts. More on scooping in winter.