Goats are roaming the Saint Paul riverfront to help maintain and enhance natural habitat.

To care for the parkland near the Mississippi River, the City of Saint Paul has introduced grazing goats to select parks. This initiative is a part of a strategic, multi-year approach to manage invasive species along the river. These goats will help reduce overgrowth by eating unwanted vegetation like buckthorn and garlic mustard.

Invasive plant removal is a part of the City of Saint Paul’s routine park maintenance efforts. Using goat grazing, however, is a new, ecologically sensitive approach for maintaining and enhancing natural habitats. Goats are ideal animals for this work because they can easily navigate steep bluff terrain and are light on the land. They can also eat brushy, woody vegetation and plants that are hazardous to other animals.

Goat Accomplishments 2017-18

From May 2017 – November 2018, 37+ goats helped reduce overgrowth in Indian Mounds, Crosby Lake and Hidden Falls Regional Parks. The grazing is both an ecological maintenance of 33 acres of land and a passive public program that attracts more than 55,000 people annually.