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Goats have become popular with city governments<\/a> to help with land clearing and management. In years past, if you were in charge of the land along roads, bridges, or near waterways, you had two main options: mow or use herbicides. This is where the goats come in. <\/p> Agile for Challenging Situations: <\/strong>Goats assist when manpower or machines are impractical or impossible. For example, city land along waterways is often a significant challenge for city land managers. They can\u2019t spray herbicides near a water source and large mowing equipment is difficult or impossible to maneuver down steep slopes. <\/p> A Tiller and Slope Erosion Treatment All in One: <\/strong>In addition, heavy equipment may contribute to compacted soils or erosion. But steep slopes are not a challenge for a goat, and their hooves help till the soil and don\u2019t contribute to erosion in steep areas. <\/p> Aiding Smokey Bear to Prevent Forest Fires: <\/strong>These four-legged lawn mowers have gained recognition for another hidden talent: firefighting<\/a>. Well, almost. Goats have been employed in states out West, California in particular, to help cities clear brush and create fire breaks near areas vulnerable to forest fires. Brush is the fuel that fires use to keep going, and goats have been a useful and cost-effective alternative to controlled burns and chemicals. <\/p> Goats have stomachs of steel and are prized by homeowners for their ability to tackle harmful, invasive plants in their lawns. <\/p> Renting a herd of goats is a straightforward process. When you request a quote from a goat rental service, they will come out and survey the work and make sure the project is feasible. They also ensure there aren\u2019t plants on the property that could harm the goats. <\/p> If you hire the company, they will come and set up an electric fence and will likely bring a guard dog to stay with the goats at all times. The goats stay on the property and eat, eat, eat, (and sleep a little) until the job is done.<\/p> Goats happen to love those awful, invasive species that can be a real problem for homeowners. Here is a short list of a few of the weeds goats find so tasty:<\/p> \u2713 Blackberry If you\u2019re considering goats as a land management tool at your home, there are a few other things to know. <\/p> Multiple Grazings: <\/strong>First, if you have lots of brush, it may take more than one grazing to reduce the competition to the point where the native species can become predominant again. <\/p> For example, after an initial grazing of an invasive weed, some plants will re-sprout the following season. Then, after a second or third grazing, they will be weakened to the point where they will die and the desired species will be able to flourish. <\/p> Some Cleanup Required: <\/strong>Second, goats will strip the leaves but usually leave the bark or stems. After they eat all of your English ivy, for example, you can then remove the stems from your property. <\/p> Don\u2019t Worry About the Weeds:<\/strong> Third, you may wonder if the seeds they eat are then digested and returned to the soil through their manure. The good news is that as the seeds pass through the goat\u2019s digestive system, they are rendered sterile. So, there is no worry about those seeds resprouting because the goat\u2019s manure placed them back into the soil. <\/p> Pro Tip:<\/strong> If you do have weeds that go to seed, be sure to have the goats come and graze before those seeds drop to the ground and reseed themselves.<\/p> If you\u2019re still wondering whether goatscaping is right for you, here are a few highlights of using goats as a land management tool. <\/p> \u2192 Goats are quiet – no noise from large machinery Goats present a bevy of advantages for large and small landowners who want to remove invasive species and restore their landscapes. They have proven useful as an eco-friendly way to help remove invasive species on difficult terrain and do fire mitigation work. While they are not the only solution to land management challenges, they are a welcome addition to the toolkit and have proven to be a win-win for both landowners and the environment.<\/p> If goats are not an option for your brushy terrain, consider calling a local professional<\/a> to keep your property trim and tidy. <\/em><\/p> Goats for home use<\/h2>
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\u2713 Buckthorn
\u2713 Cactus
\u2713 Dame\u2019s rocket
\u2713 English Ivy
\u2713 Garlic mustard
\u2713 Goldenrod
\u2713 Honeysuckle
\u2713 Kudzu<\/a>
\u2713 Poison Ivy
\u2713 Poison Oak
\u2713 Poison Sumac
\u2713 Thistle
\u2713 Spurge
\u2713 Wisteria
\u2713 Wormwood<\/p> A summary<\/h2>
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\u2192 Fertilizer at no extra cost
\u2192 Goat\u2019s till instead of compact the soil
\u2192 No worker\u2019s compensation for goats
\u2192 Work well on slopes and difficult terrain
\u2192 Great for use in wetlands or near water
\u2192 Eco-friendly
\u2192 Fossil fuel-free
\u2192 Clears invasive species without pesticides
\u2192 Fire mitigation tool
\u2192 Plant seeds are sterilized<\/p> A cute and efficient cleanup crew<\/h2>