Target Browsing with Goats

The City of Chestermere is committed to controlling weeds in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. The City follows the Integrated Pest Management practice (IPM), which aims to maintain a healthy environmental balance while protecting the native habitat, Lake and wetlands, plants and animals from invasive species in the least environmentally impacting way possible.

As part of the IPM techniques to control weeds in our parks, over 300 goats will be visiting Chestermere this spring/summer to munch through the north end of the lake (off-leash area). Target Browsing with goats is ideal for ecologically sensitive areas where herbicides or other control methods are impractical or not appropriate.

Various types of weeds exist in the off-leash area including: Typha Cat tail, Symphoricarpos Snowberry, Reichardia Sow Thistle, Cirsium arvense Canada Thistle and more. To view the complete inventory of this area, you can view this document.  

Stay tuned for more details regarding future Target Goat Browsing projects!

How it works

  • The goats will visit the north end of the lake (off-leash area).
  • The goats are never left alone. A skilled shepherd from BAAH’d Plant Management & Reclamation will be on site, as well as herding dogs. The goats will be on-site overnight with guardian dogs. 
  • If you are walking your dog while the goats are on site, dogs must be on-leash at all times. 
  • The goats will begin chomping away! The goats will be targeting noxious weeds, but they will also sample other vegetation too.
goats grazing

What you can do to help

If you see goats grazing, please keep your distance and obey signs at all times. Remember, goats are working, and are not to be disturbed. Please keep your dog on leash at all times. These goats are working and when people interact with them it disrupts their work and can cause them distress.

An electric fence is on site. Please keep a close eye on your children and dogs in this area. 

Do not disturb the goats.

goats grazing