Goats with a Summer Job
Seven retired Idyll Farms dairy goats have an important summer gig in the Manistee-Benzie County region. The ladies are tasked with doing what they do best—chomping and chewing plant matter—to help root out invasive species. Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) manages the program, thoughtfully placing the herd on conservancy properties across the region based on density of invasive plants.
This summer—the third summer of the program—the does are rotating between Trapp Farm Nature Preserve and the Misty Acres property. GTRLC targets locations that have 90% (or more) invasive plant cover that would be unmanageable by other invasive removal efforts, like spraying or hand pulling. The goats work within a mesh electric fence, indulging to their heart’s delight on this summer’s target species: Autumn Olive, Honey Suckle, Oriental Bittersweet, and Multi Flora Rose.
Dandy happily munching!
These gals have an insatiable appetite! (Far Left “Dandy” Far Right “Dynamite”)
In May, I attended a goat volunteer training session and had the opportunity to meet the goat crew before they were deployed to their first summer post. This is the second season GTRLC has employed volunteer support to care for the goats. Paired with efforts of GTRLC stewards, volunteers who go through the training can sign up to help with moving the goats or to stop by to ensure they are healthy, fed, and watered.
The goats are ridiculously friendly and cute, which makes it a complete joy to check-up on them and watch them systematically devour everything in their path.
Hello, Clyde!
Their natural grazing behavior is a perfect match for even the most steadfast invasive plants. This summer, they will eliminate two acres of invasive species, re-grazing those acres up to five times during a season.
Thank you for your hard work, goat gals! We appreciate your help preserving the precious landscapes we love in the Grand Traverse region.
If you’re interested in learning more about the goat program or getting involved with volunteering for GTRLC contact Land Steward Sam Griffin, sgriffin@gtrlc.org or 231-929-7911.
