Warning: Eco-Friendly, Weed Killers On The Trail

For those of us who hike Park City regularly, there’s something new on one of the trails. Goats. Lots of goats. Super cute, yes. But they also have a very clear purpose.
 
Weed killing or, more accurately, weed eating.
 
4 Leaf Ranch, who owns the goats, hire out their animals to eat weeds, as well as to clear brush for fire breaks. It’s eco-friendly and highly effective. Oh, and damn cute. People are coming out with cameras and bringing their children to enjoy the view. It really is hard to walk past and not smile.
 
Why are goats so great for the job? They choose to eat weeds 85% of the time. And they eat plants from the top down, so there’s much less spread of seed. So when they come through an area, the benefits can last 3 to 5 years.
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​Just one note. They ask that dogs be kept on leash around the goats. Dogs can cause the goats stress and change their eating habbets. Not much to ask, really.
 
4 Leaf Ranch says: “An added bonus is the smaller carbon footprint and the return of the best fertilizer you could buy.

Another great by-product, their four chamber stomachs can process much more than grass, including plants and substances that would be toxic to other animals on your land.  Those stomachs also help to prevent the spread of-of noxious weeds by reducing seed production and growth. Additionally, what seeds those goats do consume, do not pass back to your yard through their droppings.  Break the cycle of that dreaded thistle!”

The goats will be there for a few more days and I’m making it a point to hike past at least one more time. It just makes me smile. So worth it.
 
 
Cheers to your next visit,
Your Resort Resident