The City of Boulder will host a “Meet and Bleat” event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on June 14 at Harlow Platts Community Park, where community members can get up close and personal with the goats “hired” by the city to graze and trample invasive plants like Canada thistle, crown vetch, common teasel, and chicory. At the free event, people can pet the goats, take pictures with them, and learn more about their work in controlling invasive weeds and supporting healthy native plant communities.
From June 12 to 17, a herd of 275 to 325 goats will be on-site at Harlow Platts Community Park as part of the city’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, which aims to “address pest issues while minimizing risks to people and the environment.” The city said that it has “hired” goats for several years, but this is the first year with this specific herd.
In the last 20 years, goats have contributed to weed management in Boulder at the Boulder Reservoir, Tantra Park, Christensen Park, Gerald Stazio Softball Fields, Maxwell Park, and Harlow Platts Community Park.
“The goats help us control invasive weeds in a way that protects the environment and strengthens our community’s connection to nature,” said Joy Master, ecology supervisor for the City of Boulder. “Their grazing means we don’t have to rely as much on machines or chemicals, and it gives people a fun and educational way to see how we care for the land.”
According to the city, the herd size has “increased from approximately 30 to 300 and therefore the goats are on-site only a few days. They will work their way around the park, covering about five acres in less than a week.”
Before attending the event, community members should register online. The city has requested that people do not bring pets or snacks to feed the goats when they attend the event. The city said that event attendees should “park in the in the middle of the three parking lots off of Gillespie Drive.”
