Goats and Sheep at the Parks!

Natural Vegetation Management with Goats and Sheep

The Carmichael Recreation and Park District uses goats and sheep as an environmentally friendly way to manage vegetation in select natural areas. As grasses, weeds, and brush grow throughout the year, they can create an accumulation of dry plant material that increases fire risk during the warmer months. Grazing animals help reduce this vegetation naturally by consuming excess growth before it becomes a potential fuel source.

Goats and sheep are especially effective in areas that can be difficult to access with traditional mowing equipment. Their grazing helps control invasive weeds, reduce overgrown vegetation, and create a more manageable landscape while minimizing the need for mechanical equipment and herbicides. This approach allows the District to maintain natural areas in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.

In addition to reducing fire risk, targeted grazing can benefit the overall health of our open spaces by promoting plant diversity and helping maintain habitat conditions.  These animals play an important role in protecting our parks and natural spaces while demonstrating an innovative approach to land stewardship.

This month, goats and sheep helped reduce vegetation and fire fuel loads at Jan Park, Schweitzer Grove Nature Area, and Sutter-Jensen Community Park. The District extends a sincere thank you to the Carmichael Parks Foundation for helping fund this important service. While the District would like to continue using targeted grazing annually, budget constraints can make it challenging to fund. Thanks to the Carmichael Parks Foundation's support, these hardworking animals were able to help protect our parks and natural areas while promoting environmentally responsible land management practices.

Learn more about the Carmichael Parks Foundation and its efforts to support this program through the Save the Goats campaign. Community support through the Carmichael Parks Foundation helps make special projects like this possible and enhances the quality of our parks for everyone to enjoy.

A brown and white goat is grazing on dry grass, with other goats in the background. Sunny outdoor setting.
A large group of goats grazing in a sunny, grassy area surrounded by trees.
The image shows a group of sheep grazing in a field, surrounded by trees and dry grass.
A flock of sheep grazing on dry grass under a clear blue sky, surrounded by trees in the background.
A flock of sheep grazing on dry ground under trees, surrounded by a sunny landscape.
A young brown sheep or goat stands in dry, grassy surroundings, looking at the camera with a curious expression.
The image shows three sheep grazing on dry grass in a sunny, rural setting.
A young goat with a brown and white coat is grazing in a grassy area, surrounded by other goats in the background.
A brown and white goat is grazing on dry grass, with other goats in the background. Sunny outdoor setting.
A large group of goats grazing in a sunny, grassy area surrounded by trees.
The image shows a group of sheep grazing in a field, surrounded by trees and dry grass.
A flock of sheep grazing on dry grass under a clear blue sky, surrounded by trees in the background.
A flock of sheep grazing on dry ground under trees, surrounded by a sunny landscape.
A young brown sheep or goat stands in dry, grassy surroundings, looking at the camera with a curious expression.
The image shows three sheep grazing on dry grass in a sunny, rural setting.
A young goat with a brown and white coat is grazing in a grassy area, surrounded by other goats in the background.
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