MEDICINE HAT, AB – Following a pilot project in June, the goats are back to work at Police Point Park this week.
More than 150 goats will return to help control invasive weed species inside city limits.
They will arrive at the park beginning Monday, August 17.
“The goats are returning to continue eating leafy spurge, the noxious, invasive species within the park, hopefully destroying the plant before it flowers and goes to seed,” said Parks Technician Keziah Lesko-Gosselin. “Target browsing can stimulate plant growth, helping plants and weeds bloom and spread. We want to stop it before it gets to this stage.”
The Parks and Recreation Department began the target browsing pilot project in June.
The city says the goats were brought to the park where they focused on eating weeds in areas not normally accessed by Parks staff, due to the natural terrain and coulees.
A city release states, “We’ve tried a number of techniques in the past, including spraying pesticides,” said Lesko-Gosselin. “This technique is natural and has a lot of benefits, including improving the soil conditions. We’ve already seen positive impacts in the area.”
The owner of Creekside Goat Company Robert Finck says the goats also deal with fire mitigation in the fall to reduce winter and spring fires.
Signs will be placed in the area where the goats are grazing, asking they not be disturbed.
All trails throughout the park will remain open for public use and residents are reminded to keep their dogs on a leash.
