OVER A DOZEN bags containing pet feces were pulled from Trull Brook in Sweden this week by Lakes Environmental Association members.

By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

SWEDEN — Miriam Gibely was looking to enjoy fresh air while on a walk with her dog Saturday along Trull Brook Road in Sweden.

Instead, she stumbled upon a stinky and disturbing situation.

“I stopped on the little bridge to gaze down into the burbling stream and spied about seven store-type plastic bags dumped into the stream,” she said. “Vowing to do my part, I went back Sunday with a double, heavy trash bag intending to remove the trash bags.”

Gibely pulled three bags out of the water and attempted to place them into a trash bag.

“The water logged, feces packed bags were too foul, disgusting and heavy for me to carry out,” she said. “I left the trash bag near the roadside.”

Gibely notified the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department, the Greater Lovell Land Trust and Lakes Environmental Association in hopes of finding help to remove the bags.

“I was unable to get the bags all out of the stream. I am a nurse and I am so concerned about this!” she said. “I can’t imagine just leaving those bags of stool there. I am deeply disturbed by what I discovered.”

On Tuesday, LEA workers pulled many of the bags out of the brook, which feeds into Highland Lake.

“There were at least 15 shopping bags filled with what appear to be pet feces. A couple still remain in the brook. If we can get them out, we will,” said Colin Holme, LEA assistant director. “This type of litter is a source of dangerous e-coli, as well as numerous other harmful bacteria and parasites. Animal waste is also a source of phosphorus to the stream and lake.”

Holme added, “It is both depressing and repulsive that someone would do this to a beautiful, rock lined, cold water stream and the primary tributary to Highland Lake, where so many people swim and recreate.”

The illegal dumping into Trull Brook apparently was not the first incident by the pet waste dumper. Deposits have been made in local waterways on Hardscrabble Road and Lee Gray Road. The bus turnaround at the Bridgton town line on Sweden Road seems to be another popular place.