“They’re baaack—but what are the goats actually doing to the land?

Goat grazing is returning to Nose Hill Park this July as part of The City of Calgary’s ongoing approach to caring for natural areas. 

Natural Areas Management (NAM) uses targeted grazing as one of several tools to manage vegetation and support the long-term health of Calgary’s grasslands. Approximately 600 goats will graze a defined area of the park from July 14–30, helping reduce invasive plants and excess vegetation.  

“Targeted grazing is one of the tools we use to support long-term ecosystem health,” says Andrew Phelps, Natural Areas Management. 

This work helps maintain healthy grasslands at Nose Hill Park while reintroducing a natural process that has shaped prairie ecosystems for generations. Historically, large animals like bison and elk grazed these landscapes. Today, managed grazing helps replicate that role in a controlled way that fits within an urban environment. 

What visitors can expect 

During grazing, visitors may see temporary fencing, a shepherd, and herding dogs in the area. Some pathways or sections of the park may be temporarily closed to support public and animal safety. 

As goats move through the landscape, changes are immediate and visible. Vegetation is reduced, particularly invasive weeds and overgrown plants, giving native grasses more access to sunlight and space to grow. At the same time, grazing helps reduce woody species encroachment and lowers the amount of dry vegetation that can contribute to fire fuel loads. 

Supporting long-term ecosystem health 

While these short-term changes are noticeable, the broader impact happens over time. 

Grazing helps support natural processes such as nutrient cycling and soil renewal. Over the long term, repeated and well-managed grazing can contribute to stronger native plant communities, reduced invasive species, improved soil function and increased biodiversity. 

These changes take time and are monitored over many years to better understand how the landscape responds. 

Caring for natural areas is ongoing work. Grazing is one way The City helps maintain these landscapes as healthy, resilient systems. 

Learn more about targeted grazing at calgary.ca/goats.