Why is a nature reserve sometimes closed?
Nesting season, drought, management work: why nature reserves are temporarily closed, even to dogs on a leash.
Nature reserves are sometimes temporarily (partly) closed to visitors, even with a dog on a leash, to protect vulnerable wildlife during nesting season, to avoid fire risk during drought, or because of dangerous management work such as felling trees. This is done through official closure notices and is regulated by the managing authority, not something a forest ranger just makes up.
Nesting season: why even a leashed dog is a risk
In spring, many nature reserves have young animals around: fawns, young hares, ground-nesting birds. If a dog (even just sniffing around) gets close to such a young animal, the mother may afterwards abandon her young. That’s why forest rangers and nature inspectors from the Agency for Nature and Forests (ANB) in Flanders check extra strictly on the leash requirement during nesting season (generally from 15 April to 30 June). The standard fine for a dog running off-leash in a Flemish nature reserve is 96 euros, and rises by about a quarter during nesting season.
Drought and fire risk
During prolonged drought, a forest or nature reserve can be temporarily declared entirely off-limits to reduce the risk of wildfires and to guarantee visitor safety. For public forests and recognised nature reserves, this requires authorisation from the managing authority (in Flanders: Nature and Forests); the closure is announced with official closure notices.
Other reasons for a temporary closure
- Hunting activities (often seasonal, licensed per nesting season or annually).
- Dangerous management work, such as felling trees.
- Protection of vulnerable vegetation or populations outside the nesting season.
What does this mean for you in practice, as a dog owner?
Before you set off, check whether an access rule or temporary closure applies to the area you want to visit, especially between mid-April and the end of June (nesting season) and during dry, warm spells. Always respect closure notices and on-leash zones, even if you don’t see a problem yourself: the impact on wildlife is often invisible to the walker.
Frequently asked questions
Can I always walk anywhere in a nature reserve with my dog on a leash? No, outside designated zones you generally have to stay on the paths anyway, and during temporary closures (nesting season, fire risk, management work) an area can sometimes be entirely off-limits.
Why is even sniffing at a young animal already a problem? Because mother animals often abandon their young after they’ve been touched or sniffed by a dog, even without anything bad actually happening.
How do I know if an area is temporarily closed? Watch for official closure notices on site, or check the access rules for that specific area beforehand.
Does the higher fine apply everywhere? The amounts mentioned above apply to Flemish nature reserves managed by ANB; in other regions or countries the amount and the rules can differ. Check this locally.