City of Spokane Uses 200 Goats for Fire Prevention

Quoting Spokane’s Parks Director, ” (Goat grazing) is an economically and ecologically friendly way to manage brush density.”

 

NOTE: this article was originally published to KHQ.com on May 14, 2021.

SPOKANE, Wash. – Starting Friday, about 200 goats will be on the job to help reduce fire risk in natural areas by reducing brush and tree sapling density in Spokane.

DATES AND LOCATIONS:

May 14: Meadowglen Park
May 18: Minnehaha Park
May 23-29: South Hill Bluff and Hangman Park
“This is an economically and ecologically friendly way to manage brush density in some of our natural areas,” Parks & Recreation Director Garrett Jones said. “We are grateful to our partners for this collaboration, and are planning another round of grazing this fall.”

THE GOATS:

About 200 goats are provided by Healing Hooves from Cloverdale Ranch, Inc. They’re contained to the areas through a portable electric fence and are accompanied by a trained guard dog to protect them from predators.

IF YOU GO:

The public is welcome to visit and ask questions
Be cautious of the electric fence
Don’t feed the goats
Know the guard dog will growl or bark at any dogs who come close