Point Reyes National Seashore will begin an experimental vegetation treatment project through the use of goat grazing within Historic D Ranch. This project will begin the week of January 19.
The project will treat approximately 12 acres of vegetation that includes wild radish, poison hemlock and a variety of thistle plant species utilizing a large numbers of animals for a short duration. The goal is to gain control over these plant species which in turn could help towards the long-term maintenance of the site.
Goats are being used for this project as they will consume a variety of plants that cattle, elk and deer will not eat. It is estimated that 100 goats have the potential to consume 1-acre of vegetation per day.
Utilizing goats for vegetation treatment is new to Point Reyes National Seashore, but has been used in other areas by various agencies such as Marin County Open Space District, East Bay Regional Parks District, Pinnacles National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, to name a few, for fire fuel reduction and invasive vegetation control.
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Tags: point reyes point reyes national seashore goats goat grazing invasive plants invasive species non-native non-native plant nonnative plants nonnative species non-native plants experiment vegetation
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
