Encouraged yet again by the goats\u2019 collective performance, city officials quickly planned to set the helpful animals loose in specific parks and other grassy areas in 2026 as well.<\/p>\n
The goats have been \u201ctransformational\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGoat grazing has been transformational\u201d in Mississauga, the city said Monday in an online statement announcing year three of the program.<\/p>\n
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The practice is known as prescribed goat grazing and involves the use of livestock to address management concerns in habitats adapted to grazing, such as meadows and prairies, officials noted earlier.<\/p>\n
Essentially, the goats are used \u201cas natural lawnmowers to control invasive plant species like buckthorn, phragmites and reed canary grass \u2014 non-native invasive species that threaten local biodiversity,\u201d the city noted earlier.<\/p>\n
City officials said Mississauga was Ontario\u2019s first municipality to use this method to control invasive species when it launched the program nearly two years ago.<\/p>\n
Mississauga uses the goats to do their job targeting invasive plants across 1.2 hectares of natural areas at five sites in the city.<\/p>\n
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\u201cGoat grazing is a low-impact and chemical-free approach to invasive species management,\u201d the city said this week. \u201cForestry staff are implementing a three-year monitoring framework to evaluate grazing effectiveness across diverse habitats and multiple invasive species. Through the goat-grazing program, Mississauga has been a leader in innovative, evidence-based conservation and other cities have followed.\u201d<\/p>\n
While doing their job, the goat herds are monitored by professional herders and protected by portable fencing, \u201cso there\u2019s nothing for residents to be concerned about,\u201d the city said earlier.<\/p>\n
As it recognizes national Invasive Species Awareness Week, which runs Feb. 23 to March 1, the city says it\u2019s seeking to educate more residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cInvasive species are plants, animals, insects and micro-organisms that are not native to the area where they are living,\u201d city officials said. \u201cThey can cause harm to native species and create an imbalance with ecosystems and habitats. The City of Mississauga is leading the way in invasive species management guided by its Invasive Species Management Plan, and has spent many years actively addressing various species across the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
Invasive species second-biggest threat to biodiversity<\/p>\n
Invasive species are the second-biggest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss, the city added. They can negatively alter Mississauga\u2019s parks, woodlands, natural areas and wildlife habitats.<\/p>\n
\u201cInvasive plants can take over the space, change the soil composition and compete for nutrients, making it harder for native plants to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Invasive insects, meanwhile, can cause direct harm to trees and other native plants by transmitting disease or eating the leaves or stems, officials said.<\/p>\n
\u201cConsistent effort and adaptive management are required to maintain invasive species populations at levels that do not impact native ecosystems. Mississauga has established strong programs to ensure management is effective and lasting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mississauga officials went public in summer 2023 with a plea to residents to help them in the fight against a number of invasive plants<\/a> that pose a threat to the city\u2019s natural environment.<\/p>\n The invasive pests can also be toxic to humans, the city noted at the time.<\/p>\n (Cover photo and inside photo: City of Mississauga)<\/p>\n