They’re baaaack! Goats return to graze on Calgary’s invasive weeds

Yard work can take a lot of time and effort, but some just eat it up, as the city continues to manage green spaces with goats.

Goats are helping maintain Calgary grasslands once again, this time in a northwest park.

About 800 goats began grazing in Nose Hill Park on Wednesday and will remain for two weeks, eating vegetation and turning over soil with their hooves, to help remove invasive plant species, improve biodiversity and lower the risk of a fire.

“Over the course of 14 days, they’ll be eating about 40 hectares,” said City of Calgary parks ecologist Andrew Phelps.

A professional Shepard and trained herding dogs manage the goats, who remain on site inside an electric fence during the entire two-week grazing program.

The City of Calgary chose Nose Hill Park because it is overgrown with shrubs and trees which take over the natural grassland and threaten the health of the ecosystem.

“We are actually going after the woody brush,” said Jeannette Hall, owner of Baah’d Plant Management and Reclamation and Shepard, who is heading up the city program.

It’s a good match since that’s what the goats like best.

“They prefer broadleaf plants, weeds, seeds, and bark over the grasses,” said Hall.

Goats have an edge over other livestock.

“They have a special enzyme in their their belly to help them deal with toxic plants,” said Hall.

She said plants including black henbane, leafy spurge and common tansy are toxic to other livestock but palatable to goats used to eating it.

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The city first introduced the targeted grazing program in 2016 in a pilot project in Confluence Park.

Goats have also grazed other Calgary spaces including McHugh Bluff, Ralph Klein Park and the Fish Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant.

The city says the program costs about the same as herbicide or physically removing plants.

“We’re re-introducing grazing back to the landscape for the health of the grassland ecosystem. Get rid of vegetation overgrowth and stimulate shoot growth,” said Phelps.

The chemical-free solution requires no clean-up, since the goat droppings help fertilize the soil.

“The goats are really beneficial...better than mowing or other vegetation management control.” said Phelps.

The chemical-free solution requires no clean-up, since the goat droppings help fertilize the soil.

The city asks people to steer clear of the goats and keep dogs on leashes, to keep everyone safe.

Some days, program ambassadors will be available to speak with the public about the program at Nose Hill Rubbing Stone Hill.