Grazing goats return to Calgary Nose Hill Park

A herd of 260 goats is back at Calgary’s Nose Hill Park Friday, grazing the grass and vegetation in the Rubbing Stone Hill zone.

The goats will be chomping on bits of the grassland for 30 days in the hopes of reducing invasive species and dead vegetation while opening areas for flowers to grow.

The animals have been grazing at Nose Hill since 2016, and the City of Calgary says it’s not just their teeth that help the environment.

“Goat droppings fertilize the soil, and their hooves work the earth, helping to till, aerate and condition the ground,” a city release reads.

Parks ecologist Andrew Phelps says goats do a great job.

“Grazing has historically been an important part of the ecology of Nose Hill and has played a critical role in maintaining the native grassland species diversity,” said Phelps. “Introducing targeted grazing back to the [Nose] Hill will help remove dead vegetation and keep the competitive species in check. The goats are essentially opening new ‘real estate’ for native species to colonize and this encourages healthy wildlife habitat and biodiversity on the [Nose] Hill.”

The city adds that goat grazing is part of its plan to restore 20 per cent of open space in Calgary by 2025.

“Historically, the grazing of herbivores including bison, elk, and cattle, helped maintain the natural ecosystem of this area. The absence of grazing has led to the loss of normal ecosystem control mechanisms that would have promoted empty niches for many native plant species to thrive,” the city said.

Robert Fink, left, looks at the field in Nose Hill Park with Andrew Phelps, who works with The City of Calgary, on Oct. 14, 2022. (Bailey Nitti, CityNews photo)

Robert Finck, the co-owner of Creekside Goat Company, says the goats will cover a 40-hectare area with the help of a shepherd and trained herding dogs, who will be on-site 24/7.

“Without the border collies, we couldn’t work. That’s what holds everything together. They’re very obedient, they work all day everyday,” Finck said. “It’s been a neat natural and organic way without herbicides and sprays where we come in and take care of the problem.”

Phelps says the goats know exactly what to eat and what to leave alone, which was the perfect fit for the City of Calgary and their plan for Nose Hill Park.

“The shepherd has trained those goats and worked with them over the years, and they are honed in on weeds and grass.”

He adds that “physical interaction” with the goats isn’t allowed, and to be wary when bringing dogs to the park.

“We do ask that they keep a respectful distance from the working animals, and if they bring their ‘furry friends,’ make sure they’re on a leash, so they aren’t distracting the goats as well,” Phelps said.

There will be ambassadors during specific times and days to educate the public on the value of targeted grazing.

For more information about the goats and their grazing, and to see a schedule to learn from the ambassadors, visit the city’s website. You can learn more about the city’s plans for habitat restoration here.

Trent, a goat herder, poses for a photo with Chance his border collie in the Rubbing Stone Hill zone within Nose Hill Park in Calgary on Oct. 14, 2022. (Bailey Nitti, CityNews photo)