City officials in Mississauga are taking invasive species management by the horns this summer — with goats.
A news release issued by the city on Friday detailed its plan to help restore habitats surrounding one of the city’s wetlands.
The plan? Prescribed goat grazing, a method that uses livestock to manage “various concerns in habitats that are suited to grazing.”
On May 25, Mississauga became the first municipality in the Greater Toronto Area to trial the concept, officials said.
Fifty goats have been brought in to graze on invasive plant species, including non-native thistles and Common Reed.
“Less than one per cent of Mississauga is made up of wetland habitat, so it’s a priority for the city to protect remaining wetlands,” the news release said. “Managing invasive plant species will help restore the wetland at O’Connor Park, creating a better habitat for local wildlife, increasing biodiversity, and improving overall wetland function.”
“Using goats to manage unwanted vegetation and invasive species has many benefits including reducing fuel emissions from trimming equipment, reducing herbicide use and managing areas that are not easily accessible, like slopes,” the city added.
The city intends to continue to trial goat grazing in different habitat types and with various invasive species to gain a better understanding of the process and how it can be integrated into the city’s management tools.
Invasive species are plants, animals or micro-organisms that are not native to Mississauga and, in large numbers, can cause an imbalance to the city’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity, the city said, adding they can negatively alter Mississauga’s parks, woodlands, natural areas and wildlife habitats.
“Invasive plants can take over the space, change the soil composition and compete for nutrients, making it harder for native plants to grow,” the news release said. “Invasive insects can cause direct harm to trees and other native plants by transmitting diseases or eating the leaves or stems.”