# How do you clean up dog poop at the end of the winter? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 2, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503 "2014-05-02T14:42:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/1 "2014-05-02T14:42:39Z")
If you have a dog, and live in a northern/snowy clime, how do you clean up your yard when spring rolls around and exposes a winter’s worth of dog poop? I don’t have a dog, but apparently the neighborhood raccoons decided that the seating area for my firepit made for a great latrine over the winter. I need to clean it up before the firepit is usable. ---
**Author:** ![Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nikki_Tikki_Tavi)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/2 "2014-05-02T14:51:44Z")
Is it thawed? I did my spring cleanup with a pooper scooper and a five gallon bucket. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/3 "2014-05-02T15:20:37Z")
A shovel, a bucket and a bag inside the bucket. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/4 "2014-05-02T17:07:22Z")
With my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/5 "2014-05-02T17:14:36Z")
Very nice, Rachel. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/6 "2014-05-02T17:22:08Z")
some shit eating dog will be by to have a treat. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/7 "2014-05-02T17:22:14Z")
You can’t just hose it down? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/8 "2014-05-02T17:24:51Z")
I just scoop when he poops. The backyard would get rather disgusting quickly if I didn’t. (I imagine the people who aren’t scooping have much larger back yards–ours is about 900-1000 square feet, I’d guess. Or much smaller dogs. We have a 65-pounder.) ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/9 "2014-05-02T18:51:45Z")
The winter poop crop is easier to pick up just after the snow is just about gone but the ground is still cold/frozen, if possible. Less poop seeping into the ground. (Why are the coons congregating around the fire pit? I use something similar to a - Spade Set for Pet Waste Removal > **[Amazon.com : Four Paws Wee-Wee Pooper Scoopers for Dogs l Outdoor Rake l Spade...](https://www.amazon.com/Four-Paws-Small-Dog-Spade/dp/B0002AT45A)** > > Amazon.com : Four Paws Wee-Wee Pooper Scoopers for Dogs l Outdoor Rake l Spade & Pan l Pooper Scooper Set : Pet Waste Shovels : Pet Supplies and a plastic bag. Another option is to invert a plastic bag over your hand and pick up the poop by hand. Reinvert the bag when it’s full and tie it off. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/10 "2014-05-02T18:58:39Z")
put paper grocery bag inside plastic grocery bag. The paper bag is easier to keep open and the plastic bag will hold when the paper bag seeps through. Use shovel to deposit poop in paper bag. When done, put both bags inside a kitchen plastic trash bag, leave by garage. On garbage day, put bag in dumpster. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/11 "2014-05-02T19:18:19Z")
Winter poop is different from … Spring poop? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/12 "2014-05-02T19:20:53Z")
I used a rake when it was still cold. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/13 "2014-05-02T19:21:30Z")
Winter poop is generally colder. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/14 "2014-05-02T19:29:41Z")
that would be a poopsickle. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/15 "2014-05-02T19:44:42Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Winter poop is generally colder. Yeah, if it’s a particularly soft poop, I’ll let it settle and firm up/freeze a bit before scooping. That’s one of the advantages of dog poop in the winter–you have that option. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/16 "2014-05-02T19:44:53Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > “… spring rolls …” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/17 "2014-05-02T21:14:14Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You can’t just hose it down? Nope for a couple of reasons. First, it’s pretty firm, and second, I don’t really want all that liquid poop soaking through the seating area around my firepit. > [@Lukeinva](#): > > Winter poop is different from … Spring poop? 😕 It is, when I just found it, a whole winters worth, all at one time. Collected and aged. > [@doorhinge](#): > > (Why are the coons congregating around the fire pit? I really wish I knew. If I can figure out why they like it, maybe I can figure out how to make them dislike it next year. There’s maybe 30 sq ft of gravelled area covered in poop, to the point that you can’t walk through it without stepping on it. It is dug into a hill, so maybe they wanted a nice sheltered latrine? ---
**Author:** ![Grrlbrarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrlbrarian/32/4048_2.png) [@Grrlbrarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrlbrarian)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/18 "2014-05-02T21:27:02Z")
Not to troll, but you’ve got an unfortunate confluence of username and thread title there. 😛 I use the five gallon bucket / lined with trash bag / with a pooper-scooping shovel / while the ground is still frozen but the snow has thawed so I can see the poop. That magical day came, let’s see, I think right around the end of March this year. We can’t pooper-scoop any earlier b/c of the snow. Also, be quite careful with the raccoon faeces you’ve got there. Raccoon roundworm and leptospirosis are only two of the diseases you can get by stirring up raccoon leavings. It sounds like you’re in the open air, but that might not be adequate protection - you might consider a mask. ---
**Author:** ![Grrlbrarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrlbrarian/32/4048_2.png) [@Grrlbrarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrlbrarian)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/19 "2014-05-02T21:35:14Z")
Also, the CDC has guidelines on how to dispose of raccoon faeces to avoid problems: > **[raccoonlatrines.pdf](https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/baylisascaris/resources/raccoonlatrines.pdf)** > > 110.71 KB ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503/20 "2014-05-02T21:39:05Z")
> [@Grrlbrarian](#): > > Also, the CDC has guidelines on how to dispose of raccoon faeces to avoid problems: > > [http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/baylisascaris/resources/raccoonlatrines.pdf](http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/baylisascaris/resources/raccoonlatrines.pdf) Thanks, [q]Grrlbrarian[/q]. I can hear my SO squealing in joy. You’ve just giving him an excuse to buy a propane torch. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-clean-up-dog-poop-at-the-end-of-the-winter/687503.md?page=2)