Goats graze for grass while the Creekside Goat Company's dog and herder look on. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Goats go grazing for grass for greater good

Fire reduction work going to the goats in Lethbridge’s coulees

Sep 25, 2019 | 2:28 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The City of Lethbridge is partnering with the Creekside Goat Company for a new method of reducing fire risks.

Robert Finck’s herd of 250 goats are tirelessly working to eat dead grass and shrubs in the coulees.

“Were cleaning up some of the trees, we’re getting rid of the grass and any of the brush that’s getting close, so we’re targeting 100 feet, 30 meters, from the property line.”

The goats will be working in the area near Scenic Drive South from Lethbridge College to the cemetery, first starting around the Scenic Heights neighbourhood.

See below: The goats are let out of their enclosure to start working.

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Fire Prevention Officer with the City of Lethbridge Jeff Marriott says they wanted to utilize goats as an alternative to more traditional fuel treatment programs like controlled burns.

“It’s a lot safer and it’s very environmentally-conscious. It’s a lot safer also for our city crews so they don’t have to go into the coulees with weed trimmers and trim the foliage, so it’s kind of a win-win for all of us.”

The herd have been working with the City of Lethbridge all summer to target invasive weeds, but are now switching focus.

The biggest challenge this time around, says Finck, is that a lot of the tall grass is dry and less appealing to the goats than it was earlier in the summer, so they have to keep the animals herded to each area for a longer time.

He adds that the period from late September and into October is the best time to be doing this work because you do not have to worry about the things the goats eat growing back in a couple of weeks.

Finck, their herder, and the goats have been working around Scenic Heights for a few days now and says the nearby homeowners are very appreciative of the work they are doing.

“They’ve come out and met us. John is out herder and they bring him out coffee. Everyone’s excited that we’re doing a project to try to save their homes.”

Residents in the area have a reason to be concerned as grass fires along the coulee hills are all too common.

The City of Lethbridge has paid $20,000 for this work.

Creekside Goat Company will be grazing here for about a month or so.

Goats graze for grass in the Lethbridge coulees. (Lethbridge News Now)

Goats graze for grass in the Lethbridge coulees. (Lethbridge News Now)