Goats munch away wildfire hazards at Sharon Hills Park

To eliminate possible fire hazards, Menlo Park has employed a team of goats to munch on dry weeds and grass at Sharon Hills Park over the next week.

Menlo Park uses goats from a company called Ecosystem Concepts Inc., a goat-based weed-mitigation company based in Dixon, California. The company was started by Dr. Debrann McGrew, a veterinarian, and Robert McGrew, a firefighter. 

Menlo Park has been employing goats for this purpose for at least 15 years, said Assistant Public Works Director Brian Henry. 

Henry also said that the goats are cared for 24/7 by an on-site shepherd and herding dogs to ensure their safety, and make sure that they are doing their jobs. “The dogs help keep the goats moving through the park and help direct them to areas where the weeds are still tall, and the shepherd uses temporary electric fences to move the goats to areas that they haven’t grazed yet so that the whole park gets evenly mowed.”

The goats aren’t the only method of weed mitigation that Menlo Park uses. 

“The goats are a non-toxic alternative to using herbicides, one of the many environmentally friendly practices of the city’s Integrated Pest Management Plan,” said the city of Menlo Park in a public notice. The city doesn’t use any herbicides in its parks, according to Henry.

In Sharon Hills Park, goats may be even more effective at cutting grass than lawn mowers.

“What’s unique about Sharon Hills Park is that it’s on a steep slope. So if we were to use a traditional mower, there’s a potential for a spark or fire hazard,” said Henry.

After the goats finish their job at Sharon Hills Park, they will move to graze the undeveloped section of Sharon Park Drive. 

Visitors are welcome to stop by and watch the goats do their work, as long as dogs are leashed and under control. 

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