Did you know that goats are great weeders? If you’ve been to Calgary, AB, you may have seen Nose Hill Park host a herd of fluffy, four-legged lawnmowers tackle the weeds here annually. Plus, their digestive systems are champions at limiting the spread of harmful weeds in our natural areas! Let’s dive in on today’s episode….

a herd of around 50 goats can clear acres of dense, aggressive shrubs in just a couple of days. That level of clearing could easily take a team of people weeks! They don’t just graze on grass; they actively seek out the aggressive woody plants and vines that are choking our native species. Buckthorn, for instance, is like candy to them, and they happily munch through it while leaving beneficial native plants like milkweed completely alone.

But the real magic trick is in their digestive system. When birds or other animals eat the berries of invasive plants, like buckthorn, they simply poop out the intact seeds, which then spread the problem further. With goats, however, their system damages the seeds so they can’t grow once they’re excreted. It’s truly a case of “using nature to cure nature,” providing a sustainable, adorable, and highly effective way to manage our green spaces.

Whether you’re dealing with a nasty patch of weeds in your backyard, or you simply love the idea of cute, bleating workers tackling invasive species across Calgary’s parks, this is a trend to follow. It’s proof that sometimes, the best solution is the one that’s been grazing quietly in the pasture all along. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we might just be looking into where we can hire a few of these little lawnmowers ourselves!

Want to Learn More?

CBC News: Goats ‘delight’ as they destroy invasive buckthorn one bite at a time

Find a service near you: Goat Rental Directory