AUSTIN, Texas — The goats are baaaaack on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, continuing an annual effort to clear brush and poison ivy from the area.
The Trail Conservancy manages roughly 150 acres of natural areas along the trail, some with heavy poison ivy that makes the terrain hazardous for contractors and staff, said Grady Reed, chief of park operations.
The goats, which can can distinguish poison ivy from native plants, will graze near Austin High School this weekend.
The animals reach steep hills and dense brush that machinery and ground crews cannot, according to the conservancy, and unlike equipment, they don’t compact soil or reduce air quality.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Goats are back on the hike-and-bike trail, munching invasive plants
They work inside a fenced enclosure lined with a low-voltage wire and are managed by handlers from Rent-a-Ruminant, the contractor the conservancy hires for the program. Officials caution trail users not to pet the goats while they work, since the animals pick up oils from the poison ivy they eat.
Reed said the goats have also become a draw for trail visitors.
“It’s brought a lot of awareness as to what we do,” he said. “We have a 300-acre section of parkland downtown that we manage alongside Austin Parks and Rec, and we’re so happy that it brings visibility to the vital work that our park operations team does.”
Once an area is cleared, staff and volunteers mulch the ground to prevent invasive regrowth, and native plants are replanted in the fall and winter.
The conservancy is also promoting its Adopt-a-Goat program, which lets supporters sponsor the herd starting at $25 a month, or make a one-time $250 donation for a tote bag and a certificate naming their goat.