Eradication by mastication

Goats are making a meadow near Kings Canyon their home while they perform a service for Carson City residents: eating weeds.

"They are picky eaters," said rancher Gloria Montero about goats, animals mistakenly thought to eat almost anything. "They don't like zucchini plants, but they do like the noxious weeds."

The grazing should provide the city and local agriculture experts with information on whether goats are useful for noxious weed control. Specifically being offered as goat fare for the next three to four weeks is Russian knapweed, a plant potentially deadly to horses, irritating to humans and classified as noxious by the state and federal governments.

The goats were brought to the eight-acre area within Quail Ranch, land owned by the city's utility operations division,. They are being watched by Montero and other experienced handlers. She and five other ranchers from Fallon own the 109 weed-eating billies, does, and their 50 kids temporarily residing in the meadow. The tiniest goats still rely on their nursing mothers for sustenance while the older kids, those nearer to 3 months of age, prefer plants.

An electrified fence and Great Pyrenees are on hand to protect the sheep from predators, such as coyotes and hawks.

Masticating for Carson City are meat goats, dairy goats and even pet goats, Montero said.

The plants are just starting to go to seed at this point of their growth. Later in the season, when the plants contain more seeds, there would be great concern about the goats' feces spreading the seeds around.

As a precaution, the goats will spend a little extra time in the meadow eliminating their waste before returning to Fallon. Up to 20 percent of the knapweed seed comes out in the goats' feces, said Ann Bollinger, the city's open space assistant.

Russian knapweed, along with other noxious plants, is "detrimental or destructive and difficult to control or eradicate," according to the University of Nevada Reno Cooperative Extension.

Control or management of noxious plants, such as the knapweed, is mandated by state law.

A Waterfall fire grant is financing the $12,000 cost for the grazing. The fire's removal of plants is believed responsible for the population increase of the weeds, Bollinger said.

The city is supplying water for the goats, too.

Cooperative Extension estimates there are 75,000 acres across the state with Russian knapweed growing on it. The number comes from a study conducted in 2000, and experts theorize that the population has since increased.

Locally, the amount of these weeds has increased dramatically since first being spotted within the past few years, said Ed Smith, also with Cooperative Extension, in a recent interview.

Residents are encouraged to continue controlling their weeds, whether they are noxious or potential fire fuel, Bollinger added.

- Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.