For the fifth straight year, goats were brought to parks in Lethbridge's river valley to control invasive weeds. (Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale

Goats set free in Indian Battle Park to eat invasive weeds

Jun 27, 2023 | 12:49 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Nearly 200 goats were released into Indian Battle Park in Lethbridge on the morning of Tuesday, June 27, 2023, to help control and fight off invasive weeds.

The goats have been used to help control invasive weeds in select areas of Lethbridge’s river valley for the last five years. The goats target weeds such as leafy spurge, wormwood and thistle in Indian Battle Park and Alexander Wilderness Park.

Goats grazing at Indian Battle Park on June 27, 2023. (Photo: LNN)

Jackie Cardinal, Parks Natural Resource Coordinator with the City of Lethbridge, explained the use of goats instead of other means to control the weeds.

“Goats are a great asset to have, especially in our river valley parks. Our river valley is very sensitive, we’re right near the river, don’t want to use a lot of chemical or a lot of mechanical removal for weed species or vegetation management, so the goats are great, they target the weeds we need to target and they don’t disturb anything else,” said Cardinal.

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The weed that the city is focusing most on targeting is leafy spurge, which has no natural predators in the area and spreads through both seeds and rhizomes.

Cardinal added that since the beginning of the program five years ago, there have been positive effects from the grazing.

She explained, “Some of the wins that we’ve had is that we’re seeing a lot more native flowers growing in our parks.”

The goats are managed by a herder and dogs that are trained to move and protect the goats from predators.

Residents are reminded to keep dogs out of the area and not to pet the herd dogs or goats while they are working.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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