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You've goat to be kidding: City gets a four-legged assist removing invasive plants in the bosque
ALBUQUERQUE — Goats may be the key to clearing out the invasive plants infesting the bosque.
The city of Albuquerque’s Open Space Division and Galloping Goats — a Rio Rancho company that contracts out herds of goats — are collaborating to send 285 goats to the Rio Grande bosque, where they’ll devour invasive species like kochia and tumbleweed to prevent wildfires.
Through Feb. 21, the goats will be hard at work near Tingley and Alcalde not only removing unwanted plants but also fertilizing the surrounding land. The bosque trail will remain closed during the project.
“What’s really awesome about these goats is that when they eat plants, 80% to 90% of the seeds they ingest are no longer viable ... They become fertilizer and are less likely to sprout into more plants,” said Emily Moore, marketing and communications coordinator for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.
The animals will roam the bosque and Galloping Goats will fence off native plants with portable electric netting.
“The goats are pretty much grazing six to seven days a week right now,” said Lucas Goodrum, co-owner of Galloping Goats.
Another added benefit to using goats instead of machinery is that it protects the bosque’s ecosystem.
“Goats work really well for fire mitigation, invasive species management and weed management in general,” Goodrum said. “The goats are able to work in areas you wouldn’t be able to get lawnmowers or heavy equipment in. It’s a very natural process, so they’re a lot less destructive to the ecosystem.”
The city encourages people to watch the goats while avoiding the grazing area.
“Walkers and cyclists and people are stopping to see them, so it’s fun to engage in that conversation,” Moore said. “I’ve never seen so many smiles. It’s important work the goats are doing and people can come out and see how cute these guys are and learn about why it’s important to prevent fires in our bosque.”
