Goats have been used as a means of controlling invasive plants species in various locations around the world for many years. At EALT, we’ve sought to harness the plant management power of goats, most recently at our Pipestone Creek lands. Invasive plants are a pervasive issue, and one of EALT’s biggest stewardship challenges.
Managing invasive plants is a key component of promoting a functional and healthy ecosystem and ensures that wildlife have access to undisturbed native habitat. EALT uses an Integrated Pest Management approach to managing weeds on our conservation lands, and the goats are an efficient solution to complement our other ongoing stewardship efforts. But what makes these little guys so effective at controlling invasive weeds?
The Program
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EALT has partnered with BAAH’D Plant Management and Reclamation, with funding from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, to utilize a herd of goats to browse on Common Tansy, Canada Thistle, and other species at our Pipestone Creek Conservation Lands.
Goats tend browse on woody and broad-leaved plants, as opposed to grazing on grasses like cows and sheep. Goats, like those contracted by EALT, can be trained to browse on specific invasive plants. In order for target browsing to be effective, the goats must rotate on and off specific problem areas, as they are doing at Pipestone Creek.
To keep the goats in a specific area, they not only have a shepherd, but dog companions are also used to protect goats from both predators and accidental escape.
Managing Invasive Plants through Target Browsing
Targeting weeds through browsing works similarly to other manual weed control methods, such as mowing or clipping. Both methods remove the plant close to the ground, which exhausts the plant’s energy stores and prevents it from flowering and producing seeds. Continued pressure on plants in this way suppresses invasive plants, and gives more time and space for the native vegetation to grow. A herd of several hundred goats is very efficient at removing invasive plants, especially in difficult-to-reach places and large infestations of weeds. Pipestone Creek, for example, has steep slopes that are difficult for staff and volunteers to access, whereas goats can easily target those areas. Large swaths of Canada thistle surrounding thousands of 8-year old white spruce trees in a restoration area at Pipestone Creek would be difficult to navigate with a brush cutter without damaging the trees, but are a cinch for goats.
Additional Benefits of Using Goats for Plant Management
Weed seeds are destroyed when digested by goats, so there is no risk of spreading seeds as there may be with other livestock.
Goats can consume weeds that are toxic to cattle and other livestock.
Goats build up organic matter and nutrients in the soil to promote native plant growth.
Goats are trained to eat weeds as they grow and so are able to recognize target invasive species as food.
Goats are safe to use near water bodies and in hard-to-reach places like slopes
Special Thanks to BAAH’D Plant Management & Reclamation for partnering with us for this program, and to TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for making this possible!
If you want to see these goats in action, keep your eyes out on our social media in late August and early September to find out when they come back to Pipestone Creek for their second course. If you’re bringing your dog for a walk and you know you’ll be around the goats, be sure that they are on a leash so as not to alarm them or their canine companions!