Brackenridge Park wants to bring back the massive herd of grazing goats
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Back in May, you may have noticed the herd of over 150 hungry goats that took over popular local jogging and picnic destination, Brackenridge Park. Now, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department and the Brackenridge Park Conservancy are trying to bring the scruffy gluttons back to digest the park's ever-growing overgrowth.
The goats, all gainfully employed at the Texas division of Rent-A-Ruminant, are a proposed eco-friendly (and adorable) solution to managing the invasive and overgrown plant species growing at the historic park. The multi-stomach, voracious creatures are billed as an alternative to harmful herbicides, and are better suited for scaling inaccessible areas than your average maintenance worker.
The largest goat grazing service in Texas, Rent-A-Ruminant is led by Caroline and Kyle Carr, who travel the state on a for-hire basis, keeping fields, lawns, and natural areas neat and trim.
The May initiative, the first time the San Antonio organizations had ever endeavored any project of this kind, was made possible largely by donations from the 2021 Big Give SA campaign.
The Brackenridge Park Conservancy is currently calling on supporters to donate to the goat cause once again,"to keep Brackenridge Park safe and healthy" during this year's campaign which begins Thursday, September 22 at 6 p.m. and ends Friday, September 23 at 6 p.m.
Big spenders with cash to burn who donate $500 to the campaign will get a chance to name a goat, according to the park conservancy. All donors will be invited to pet the goats for a special photo opportunity in May 2023.
If they reach their goal, the goats will make a return in the spring time, and remain for several weeks. The last time the goats came to town was not without its drama. A power generator for the electric fence put in place to safe-guard the goats was stolen before safely being returned shortly after.
No goats were harmed, but they did leave San Antonio with their stomach's full.