Ready, Set, Goat
By WILLY COOK
Express Staff Writer
An army of goats was unleashed this week on noxious weeds growing alongside the Wood River Trail bike path. In a pilot program that began Tuesday, 648 yearling goats have been enlisted to help control species like knapweed and leafy spurge without the use of pesticides and herbicides. Goats will make their way from Bellevue to Hulen Meadows, north of Ketchum, grazing in fenced areas for the next two months. The project is a partnership between Pesticide Action Network of Blaine County, a local citizens group founded by Brian Ross and Susan Reinstein, and the Blaine County Recreation District. “This is a chemical-free solution to keep our community healthy,” Ross said. Cleanup of the trail will be performed as the animals move on. The goats are provided and managed by Ray Holes, with Grangeville, Idaho-based Prescriptive Livestock Services.
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