Herd of Goats Helps City of Toronto Manage Invasive Plant Species

A herd of 50 goats is being used by the City of Toronto to clean up invasive species of vegetation as an eco-friendly way to manage the area.

It is the second year the city has used the goats to reduce unwanted plants and weeds in the Don Valley Brick Works Park, and the idea started with Natural Environment Specialist Cheryl Post, who has been with the city for more than 15 years.

She said she noticed the traditional management techniques were not getting the results the city wanted and felt that prescribed goat grazing would help.

“Goats are a really good fit for us because they like herbaceous and woody species,” she said in an interview.

She said one of the management goals for the area was to reduce “wood encroachment,” which is when non-native trees and shrubs take over a meadow habitat.

“The goats are really great at tackling woody invasive species, as opposed to say something like sheep, who are better with grass.”

The city became the first municipality in Ontario to introduce the grazing program in 2024, according to its website.

Mayor Olivia Chow said that she was happy about the project, saying it was an innovative way to enhance parkland management.

“Initiatives like these, highlight how we can creatively maintain Toronto’s important urban meadows,” Chow said. 

The goats, from Goats in the City Inc., are never used for anything other than grazing, the city’s website said.

There is water and shelter provided for the animals, and an on-call veterinarian if needed.

Post said the animals’ safety was also a focus for the project.

“They’re kept in their family groups. They’re in very secure enclosures and very safe and monitored 24/7 while they’re working on the project.”

The goats were brought in for two days this year on June 10 and 11.

Post said the response from the public has been positive.

“They are very happy to see the goats,” she said “They’re consistently asking, ‘Are they going to be coming back? We’re so happy to see them.’ So the reception has been very warm, very positive, and very encouraging.”

She said the animal grazing also improves the soil health in the area.

The city’s website said that goats can eat between 3 and 4 percent of their body weight every day. The average weight of a goat is 70 kilograms, which means they eat about three kilograms of vegetation each day.