The goats were so successful in clearing seven acres in the Wilderness Area that they loaded up and headed home earlier than planned.
About 150 goats from Rent-A-Ruminant® Texas were in the Park to naturally cut or “mow” overgrown vegetation, cleaning almost seven acres of Park land.
Goats, which graze on many varieties of grasses and plants, are an effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable solution to vegetation management. This approach will clear unwanted or undesirable plant species and remove extra brush, negating the need for commercial mowing and the use of herbicides.
If you would like to donate to continue the Go For Goats project in Brackenridge Park, please click here.
Rent-A-Ruminant Texas provides a workable alternative to traditional land clearing, chemicals, or commercial mowing. A large portion of the herd comes from animal rescue or private adoptions and includes eight different breeds of goats, including Nubian, Boer, Kiko, Savanna, and Nigerian Dwarf. Goats on site are from one to 10 years in age. All of them have names.
Animal Care Services reviewed and approved the permit for the contracted livestock operation which allows for the humane use of the animals to clear vegetation at Brackenridge Park. This accommodation was made in coordination with the Parks and Recreation Department and Brackenridge Park Conservancy.
Hiring goats was made possible through the generous donations of the Alamo Heights Terrell Hills Garden Club and BPC donors from the 2021 Big Give SA fundraiser.
For more goat photos, click here.