The City of Brighton’s Open Space Division is once again partnering with Goat Bros LLC to bring 300 goats back to the Ken Mitchell Open Space on Sunday, June 1, for noxious weed control, wildfire mitigation, and regenerative grazing. Community members are encouraged to observe the goats from a respectable distance. 

The working herd of 300 goats are not pets. Visitors should observe the following guidelines: 

• Stay clear of the electric fence
• Do not feed, touch, or bother the herd
• All pets must be leashed

Why Goats? 

Goats are an environmentally friendly alternative to using toxic-chemical pesticides, especially around lakes and streams. The benefits of using goats include: 

• Goats can safely consume many noxious weeds that are harmful to other livestock, making them a natural tool for weed control. They typically avoid native grasses, allowing those beneficial species to thrive.

• As part of land reclamation efforts, goats till the soil with their hooves, disperse seeds, fertilize with their dung, and trample everything in—all at once.
• Serving as an eco-friendly alternative to herbicides, goats offer sustainable weed management without harmful chemicals that may pose risks to pollinators and water quality.
• By consuming dry brush and vegetation that fuel wildfires, goats can significantly lower the risk of wildfire outbreaks.
• Goats’ grazing habits create space and nutrients for other wildlife by reducing competition from invasive weeds.
• With strong digestion and thorough chewing, goats destroy most plant seeds they ingest, preventing further spread.
• Routine grazing helps reduce the seed bank of invasive species, giving native grasses and flowers a better chance to dominate.

For more information, contact Rob Burdine, Open Space Manager, at rburdine@brightonco.gov, or by calling 303-655-2274.