ABSTRACT: According to an article in The Monterey County Herald, the Pebble Beach Company has contracted with Goats R Us for “Organic Vegetation Management” or vegetation eradication in Pebble Beach. Information from the Goats R Us website and a link to The Monterey County Herald’s article are provided. COMMENTS are made regarding Goats R Us services for Mission Trail Nature Preserve and the southern side (Carmel side) of Pescadero Canyon. Selected relevant excerpts from the City’s General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan Coastal Resource Management Element are reproduced as REFERENCES.
Founded in 1995 by Egon and Terri Oyarzùn, Goats R Us is a family owned and operated grazing company based in Orinda, CA. Goat herds are used primarily for fuel mitigation, eradication of undesirable plant species and brush reduction. Moreover, the company has specialized vegetation management programs, such as "Organic Vegetation Management" or vegetation eradication currently underway in Pebble Beach.
The use of Goats is advantageous for many reasons, including:
• Goats devour most vegetation that is available, including plants such as poison oak and many other highly invasive species.
• Goats navigate through rough terrain difficult to access by man.
• Goats are more efficiency than man or machine.
For More Information about Goats R Us:
The People
Egon, Terri, and Zephyr Oyarzùn, Owners
Domingo Fuentes Escobar, Foreman
Shepherds: Each goat herd is maintained by a shepherd and his Border Collie.
The Goats: The herd is a melting pot of breeds: Angora, Alpine, Spanish, Boer, Pygmy, La Mancha, and Nubian.
The Dogs: Border Collies
The 1st Ten Years:
"A shift in focus from generic brush clearing to specialized vegetation management programs became essential as the business grew. While some sites required fairly simple treatments, others demanded more pre-production planning and attention to a variety of details such as native plant cycles, ground nesting bird reproductive seasons, endangered species’ habitats and patterns, etc. Goats R Us has developed symbiotic working relationships with local experts in each of these fields. Each new challenge has become an opportunity for us to expand our knowledge by working out creative solutions with biologists and land managers."
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to have a site grazed?
The fee charged depends on the size of the site and type of vegetation, but the average is about $700 per acre. The cost includes transportation, the shepherd's salary, supplements and healthcare for the goats, fencing, and insurance.
What will the goats eat?
The goats will eat most vegetation that is available, including plants such as poison oak that are difficult to clear by hand. They will readily consume otherwise undesirable species such as pampas grass, any kind of thistle, and blackberry. By generally eating the top of the plant instead removing it by the roots, goats may be less damaging to native plants when compared to traditional grazers. If, however, the land manager is trying to protect specific species other steps may need to be taken such as fencing off sensitive areas.
The Monterey County Herald
Goats munch for hire in Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach: Four-legged lawn mowers clearing vegetation
By DANIEL LOPEZ
Herald Staff Writer
Article on the Pebble Beach Company contracting with Goats R Us for vegetation eradication in Pebble Beach. Shepherd Ruben Inga, Border Collies Panda and Rambo and about 400 goats.
COMMENTS:
• The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea should seriously consider the use of Goats R Us services for the eradication of non-native and invasive plant species in areas of Mission Trail Nature Preserve and the southern side (Carmel side) of Pescadero Canyon.
• At approximately $700/acre, the cost to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea for vegetation eradication of non-native and invasive species in Mission Trail Nature Preserve would amount to less than $24,500.
• Along with grazing, Goats R Us offer hand clearing in conjunction with grazing to provide a complete vegetation abatement program for dense or sensitive landscapes, such as Mission Trail Nature Preserve.
REFERENCES:
Mission Trail Nature Preserve
P5-119 Remove by hand nonnative shrubs and their roots invading these areas during late spring when soils are moist and before seed/seed pods become viable. (LUP)
O5-27 Reduce the introduction and population of invasive horticultural species in the Preserve. (LUP)
Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas
O5-37 Reduce the introduction and spread of invasive horticultural species into and within identified ESHAs.
O5-38 Manage environmentally sensitive habitats in Mission Trail Nature Preserve to maintain and enhance their natural integrity. Preserve and protect Mission Trail Nature Preserve native plant, wild animal and bird populations. (LUP)
P5-171 Cooperate in regional efforts to manage the entire Pescadero watershed for habitat value and fire safety. (LUP)
(Source: General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan Coastal Resource Management Element)
4 comments:
These goats with shepherd and border collies are fantastic workers. They are fun to watch and make short work of projects taking hours and hours of human labor.
Pebble Beach has been using goats, etc. for 10 years now. If they are good enough for Pebble Beach, then they can certainly be used to great benefit in Carmel, especially in Mission Trail Park. The poison oak and ivy has become so overgrown-goats would be the perfect answer. And the city probably would not have to do it every year anyway.
Bring in a herd of goats, the dogs and their shepherd. It would be well worth it.
Kudos to Egon, Terri, and Zephyr Oyarzùn, Owners of Goats R Us! What an interesting story. Their love of animals has tranlated into a much sough after successful business.
I enjoyed reading about the retired goats too. Much success to the owners in their expanded ventures.
This sounds like a good plan. In the past that would almost certainly have doomed it so far as the city council was concerned. This city council is still reluctant to spend much money on Carmel's natural assets but for the first time in over eight years is at least considering suggestions that don't necessarily fit in with it's members drive to minimize spending and staff at all costs. The idea might have a better chance of being accepted because it includes an outside contractor to do the work and if the city council will spend money for anything it is to hire contractors.
Bring on the goats. At $20,000, a drop in the bucket compared to other city expenses which do not add up to much, it would be an investment in Mission Trail Nature Preserve. Long overdue, but something the city should do for the park and all the people who use the park and enjoy their runs and walks and bird watching in the park.
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