Goat power a greener way to control weeds
Ministry of Transportation, city of Kamloops hire Alberta goat herder to fight invasive plants
B. C.’ s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is experimenting with a simpler, greener way to fight invasive weeds: goat power.
“So far, so good,” said Donna Olsen, the ministry’s environmental services co- ordinator for the southern Interior region, of the pilot projects last summer at two gravel pits near Kamloops.
“Early indications are that it’s a good way to control invasive plants.”
The ministry used a herd of about 400 hungry goats rather than chemicals as a more environmentally friendly way of controlling plant species in gravel pits used for highway maintenance operations and construction projects.
This year, it plans to continue the project, which is largely aimed at spotted knapweed.
“It’s another tool in the tool box,” said Olsen, noting the ministry also uses herbicides, mowing and weed- whacking to control weeds.
“There was a sea of pink flowers before the ( goats) were let loose in the pit. There was definitely less pink ( when the goats were through) and it definitely diminished the ( plants’) ability to produce seeds.”
She said using goats is not only a greener way of controlling weeds, but can be up to 30 per cent cheaper per hectare than traditional control methods.
“There’s definitely a lot of interest at other sites,” said Olsen, whose ministry is analyzing the results.
Conrad Lindblom, the Alberta goat herder who was hired for the two pilot projects, said his herd has munched on
We’re probably the only ones in the country that are using goats for weed control commercially as a contractor.
CONRAD LINDBLOM
ALBERTA GOAT HERDER
weeds professionally for more than a dozen years in northern B. C. and Alberta, primarily for logging companies and parks in northern towns.
Last summer, Lindblom brought his goats to Kamloops to tackle weeds in a local park and was subsequently hired by the transportation ministry to have his goats work their magic in the gravel pits.
“( The goats) did very well,” said Lindblom, whose company is called Rocky Ridge Vegetation Control.
“There was a lot of knapweed and blueweed and they ( also) eat the seeds.
“It’s as effective as pesticides, but environmentally friendly.”
Added Lindblom: “We’re probably the only ones in the country that are using goats for weed control commercially as a contractor.”
Lindblom said he kept his herd in Kamloops over the winter and is looking forward to continuing his work with the transportation ministry and the city of Kamloops this summer.
“We’re thinking of moving here,” added Lindblom, citing Kamloops’s warmer weather. “The goats like it, too.” Karla Hoffman, the city’s integrated pest management co- ordinator, said the goats were utilized over 10 days in Kamloops’s largest park, the 800- hectare Kenna Cartwright Park, to control the dalmation toadflax weed.
They will be used again this summer, she added.
“At this point, it’s considered a success,” said Hoffman.
“They were eating the plants and reduced the amount of weed seeds.”
Hoffman said the city plans to expand their use to other parks.
“Some people had concerns about it,” she said.
“But the response was unbelievable. The public was thrilled to see ( us) try something so environmentally friendly.”
Hoffman said the cost was comparable to using a chemical application “or less.”
Meanwhile, Lindblom noted that his herd is available for other jobs throughout southern B. C.
“We’re trying to promote the industry in southern B. C. We talked with the Minister of Environment ( Terry Lake) at Christmas and he’s very supportive of it.”