Over the last two days, 100 goats and a few sheep flocked to a 0.75-acre property in a quiet neighborhood off Deer Valley Drive.
With only an occasional bleat and the sounds of chewing, the herd got to work doing what they do best.
“Six-to-8-inch tall vegetation, like this grass here, 100 goats will eat 1 acre a day,” said 4 Leaf Ranch owner and goat whisperer, Greg Cover.
During their short stay, the goats were tasked with removing dense foliage in the Good Trump District of Queen Esther Village, but not just as a tasty meal. They’re creating a fire break, explained Cover.
It’s something homeowner Jami Guttenberg and her husband, Steve, realized they needed after talking with Park City Municipal Fire Marshal Cherie Wellmon about how to make their wooded property safer in the case of a wildfire.
Then they called in landscapers, who said: “You need goats.”
Wellmon said while the goats are not a city program, it’s a project they’re happy to see in the area.
“For private properties with significant undergrowth, particularly on steep slopes, goat-based vegetation management can be an effective wildfire mitigation tool,” she said. “Property owners are welcome to consider this approach where appropriate.”
She said her office is available as a resource for understanding the best strategies for reducing wildfire risk.
Originally from Philadelphia, Jami said she thought the goat talk was a joke. But then she did the research and realized that not only is the option allowed in Park City, it’s also much cheaper than hiring humans.
“We originally looked at labor, and it was going to be like 10 times the cost to have humans come in and cut all this down,” said Steve, who is also the president of his homeowners association.
That’s including the extra time to saw everything back, load it all up and dump it, which is also more wasteful.
The goats, on the other hand, put all that vegetation to use and leave behind little gifts, Cover said.
“We’re not hauling trash out. They put it right back on the ground as a fertilizer,” he said. “For the weeds that are in here, they’ll capture them. They got four compartments in their belly and completely digest (the seeds) … so they get a weed control.”
With old and super green vegetation, Cover administers supplements in the animals’ water to ensure they still have a well-rounded diet with enough protein and nutrients.
He said each goat has its own personality and preferences, which is clear to see when watching them eat. Some will go straight for the lush green leaves, while others will climb up on a tree branch to get a stick up high.
“It’s just like how we are a little bit. What are we in the mood for, an apple or steak?” Cover said.
His 11-year-old border collie, Jons, is “the star.” Jons herds the animals whenever and wherever they’re needed, and back onto the trailer when it’s time to go home.
For a fire break, Cover will ensure his goats leave 5% to 10% vegetation. After 27 years of running his Kamas Valley-based business, he’s seen his method succeed across the state.
But the goats aren’t firefighters, he said. This work is preventative, and he won’t send his animals out in the path of a fire — which people have asked — even if it is effective.
Cover said 4 Leaf Ranch is the only long-standing ranch that offers targeted grazing with goats and sheep, and he’s traveled all over the state for services. But with the rise in gas prices especially, he’d love more projects closer to home in the Wasatch Back to keep his business going.
“We’re not getting rich. Ninety, 95% of what we make during the season goes to hay, just to keep these guys alive,” he said. “It used to cost me $50,000 in hay, just to keep them going through the winter. It’s doubled and tripled now.”
Anyone interested in goat-made fire breaks or weed mitigation can visit the 4 Leaf Ranch Facebook page for more information.
