A goat’s hunger is no joke. Last week, Natalie Feisthauer enlisted a team of 50 goats to devour two acres of invasive buckthorn shrubs on her rural Hamilton property, yielding impressive results. The goats cleared the buckthorn in just two days, a task that would have taken Feisthauer and her husband weeks, if not months, to complete manually.
Feisthauer expressed admiration for the goats’ efficiency, describing them as delightful and friendly creatures that are hard to resist. Throughout southern Ontario, goats are increasingly being recognized as effective allies in combating invasive plant species. Property owners and conservation authorities are embracing the use of “eco-herds” to eradicate not only buckthorn but also other problematic plants like phragmites, Manitoba maple, dog strangling vine, vetch, and Canada thistle.
For over ten years, Feisthauer and her husband have been battling the relentless spread of buckthorn on their 10-acre property, seeking alternatives to herbicides. After collaborating with the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA), they targeted two areas with dense buckthorn thickets and brought in the goat specialists.
Goats in the City, a goat rental company from King City, Ontario, deployed a trailer of goats to Feisthauer’s property for their inaugural job in Hamilton. Ian Matthews, the company’s founder, shared his passion for goats, emphasizing their affinity for buckthorn and their ability to preserve native plants like milkweed while munching away.
Matthews explained that goats play a crucial role in preventing the spread of buckthorn seeds by disrupting their growth during the digestive process. With a total of 126 goats under his care, Matthews aims to leverage nature to combat invasive species effectively.
Having grown up in Jamaica surrounded by goats, Matthews initially pursued a different career path as a mortgage broker upon moving to Canada. However, his childhood connection to goats resurfaced when he began assisting his father with goat care in the Greater Toronto Area, leading him to establish Goats in the City in 2021.
Each goat, bred for its amicable nature, possesses a distinct personality, making the experience both challenging and fascinating for Matthews. Despite the occasional trials, Matthews finds working with the goats consistently engaging and rewarding.