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Photo courtesy of Carol Vig Photography.<\/p>\n
Forget lawn mowers. Northaven TAILS, a herd of goats and sheep, helped manage vegetation along the Northaven Trail<\/a> from Oct. 2-10.<\/p>\n Over the course of the season, the animals grazed 55 designated pollinator areas between U.S. 75 and Webb Chapel Road, covering 15 acres.<\/p>\n As part of the Friends of Northaven Trail\u2019s TAILS<\/a> program, the animals helped clear overgrown vegetation and prepare the areas for native wildflowers. The program returned for a second year after its inaugural 2025 season drew community support and raised $34,915 through the organization\u2019s \u201cGive to the Graze\u201d campaign.<\/p>\n According to Will Dawson, fundraiser chair for the Friends of Northaven Trail\u2019s board of directors, using goats and sheep rather than relying entirely on mechanical mowing offers environmental advantages.<\/p>\n \u201cGrazing cuts our reliance on gas-powered mowing, and the animals\u2019 manure puts nutrients back into the soil as it breaks down naturally,\u201d Dawson said. \u201cMowing unfortunately spreads weeds; by contrast, the animals will eat many of the weeds down to the roots.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson said mowing also tends to leave a thick layer of thatch, or dead plant material, that can block sunlight and prevent seeds from reaching the soil. Goats and sheep eat the vegetation rather than cutting it and leaving it behind.<\/p>\n \u201cThe two species also eat differently: goats go after dense and woody growth, and sheep graze the grasses,\u201d Dawson said.<\/p>\n This year, Friends of Northaven Trail introduced another step in its restoration efforts by spreading native wildflower seeds while the herd was still grazing in the no-mow zones. These areas are allowed to grow throughout the season before being cleared in the fall and reseeded with native wildflowers.<\/p>\n Dawson said the animals\u2019 hooves will press the seeds into the soil and improve germination rates.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of Carol Vig Photography.<\/p>\n The 2026 herd included approximately 450 goats from Oklahoma and 200 sheep from West Texas. Experienced professional herders monitored the animals and their fencing around the clock, Dawson said.<\/p>\n The herd also had a different way of navigating the trail this year. In 2025, the animals had to be loaded onto a trailer for each road crossing.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year, the herd was loaded onto a trailer for each of its crossings, which was logistically challenging and expensive,\u201d Dawson said. \u201cThis year, law enforcement officers of Dallas Police helped the herd cross Hillcrest Road, Preston Road, Inwood Road, Midway Road, Marsh Lane and Royal Lane.\u201d<\/p>\n The program also expanded its reach in other ways. The herd covered 15 acres this year, up from nine acres in 2025, and organizers added a dedicated website<\/a> with a live map showing the herd\u2019s location and an estimated grazing schedule.<\/p>\n Community participation also grew. Local businesses, families and individuals sponsored<\/a> all 55 grazing areas, volunteers greeted visitors during opening weekend, and 35 Girl Scouts earned a \u201cNorthaven TAILS Trail Stewards\u201d badge. Organizers also brought the animals to four schools to give students an opportunity to learn about the program.<\/p>\n Behind the program\u2019s growth is a community-funded effort to maintain and restore the Northaven Trail\u2019s pollinator areas.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/NorthavenTails26CarolVigPhotography-03030.webp\")
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