Hundreds of grazing goats return to Calgary’s Nose Hill Park
Posted Jul 14, 2026 1:45 pm.
Last Updated Jul 14, 2026 4:34 pm.
Goat grazing has returned to Calgary’s Nose Hill Park this month as part of ongoing work to restore and maintain the park’s natural grasslands.
The City of Calgary says roughly 600 goats will be brought into a fenced section of the park between July 14 and July 30 to eat invasive weeds and thick vegetation.
Visitors may notice temporary fencing, a shepherd, herding dogs, and occasional pathway closures while the goats are on-site.
The city says the animals help replicate natural prairie processes once carried out by large grazers such as bison and elk, opening space for native grasses and reducing growth and dry vegetation that can increase fire risk.
“Targeted grazing is one of the tools we use to support long-term ecosystem health,” says ecologist Andrew Phelps.
The most visible changes happen quickly, according to officials, as the goats clear overgrown plants and thin out dense patches of vegetation. The long-term benefits are expected to develop over years.
The city will continue monitoring the area over multiple seasons to track how the landscape responds.
More information on goat grazing can be found here.
