Goats to Go

Several years ago, the city of Fernandina Beach, with assistance from the North Florida Land Trust, purchased a 5-acre conservation parcel not far from the Ron Sapp Egans Creek Greenway. And recently, a herd of goats were called in to help maintain the conservation land. About 50 goats and several sheep chowed down on invasive and nuisance vegetation threatening to crowd-out native plants on site for a week.

The goats belong to Goats on the Go Jacksonville Northwest, a target grazing company based in Macclenny, Florida and owned by farmer and University of Florida Alumni Nikki Gunter. City of Fernandina Beach Conservation and Environmental Manager Kathy Russell said she took the innovative step of hiring Goats On The Go because it just made so much sense.

“We’ve been searching for a low-impact method of underbrush clearing for this parcel and potentially others. In the natural world fires do the job periodically. However, a controlled burn is not a viable option in areas near homes and businesses. Natural fire fueled by vegetative build-up can be catastrophic. Goats are proven to be an efficient and low-impact method of clearing out low-lying plants, especially nuisance vines and invasives that alter the natural environment,” said Kathy Russell.

Kathy Russell went on to say that the City of Jacksonville recently used goats within an area at Hanna Park with success. The scale of controlling invasive plants in the nearby Greenway is tremendous. Kathy said she is using this small 5-acre parcel as a test run for potential future applications in parts of the Greenway.

Heavy machinery is costly and impacts the soil, resident gopher tortoises and other wildlife. Goats can also replace the use of chemicals to reduce invasive species. The use of goats maximizes human safety as well and goats do not require workers compensation insurance Kathy enthusiastically reminds us.

Nikki Gunter, goat owner believes goats are amazing creatures. She tells us, “They like to eat weeds and brush more than grass and many of our biggest nuisance plants are at the top of the goats’ list.” This fact has significant implications for conservation groups that manage complex properties. Goats can be put to work controlling poison ivy, nuisance grape vines, Japanese honeysuckle, skunk vine, air potato, wild taro and Chinese tallow trees without use of chemical herbicides or heavy gas-powered machinery. They also happily work in areas that would be uncomfortable and even dangerous for human workers – like steep slopes and dense woods.

Goats On The Go makes it easy for land managers to employ targeted grazing by offering a range of grazing services. Nikki Gunter tells us, “We can provide complete on-site management of grazing projects, but when the properties are larger it is often more feasible for the customer’s staff and volunteers to take the reins. We outfit them with the training, strategy, and equipment they need to be successful. And of course, we’ll provide the goats.”

Both Gunter and Program Manager Gabrielle McInvale admit to taking some ribbing about their oddball enterprise, but after a successful demonstration project at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park in Jacksonville, they are confident about touting their business. Nikki Gunter reminds us, “We can’t take ourselves too seriously. They are goats, after all. But once you see the good they can do it’s hard not to talk about goats with everyone you meet.”

For more information, contact Nikki Gunter at Goats On The Go or email Kathy Russell, City of Fernandina Beach Conservation Manager.