Bells jingled across White Rock Lake as hundreds of goats began doing what they do best: eating weeds. About 300 goats were deployed Thursday to eat invasive plants in the area. As part of the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department’s new eco-friendly vegetation management project, the city is using goats from Fort Worth and Weatherford, along with a few sheep, to clear roughly 11½ acres of prairie and wooded land on the lake’s east side. The city is paying about $1,300 per acre, or about $15,000 for the project. The goats will graze about 1½ acres a day over the next 10 days. An electric mesh fence will be moved daily to guide them to new sections, while a shepherd remains on-site 24/7 to keep everyone safe and on task. Think of it as rotating salad bars, but the guests have hooves. The city chose goats because they will eat basically anything woody that’s green, including shrubs, saplings and low branches up to about 5 feet high. While the goats will handle the shrubs and trees, 5-10 sheep will graze on the grass. Together, they form a balanced landscaping team. Officials say that as entertaining as goat-watching may be, the project serves serious goals: reducing wildfire risks, improving visibility near trails and restoring prairie health.
