Rent-a-Ruminant® goats are “baaack” at the Houston Arboretum for “shearing” starting May 20 | Form an ocean to another

The public is invited to come and see the activity

Everyone’s favorite ruminants, the goats of Rent-a-Ruminant® Texas, return to the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Monday, May 20 for an encore performance aimed at clearing the dense thicket of native and invasive vegetation in the 3-acre area . just south of Meadow, between the South Meadow Trail and the Muscadine Trail along the Outer Loop.

These popular animals made their last appearance in May 2023, when they were grazing on vegetation and invasive species around the Wildflower Trail near the Administration Building. This will be the fifth visit of the goats, the first having taken place in 2020.

The public is invited to view the goats at work during the week they are here, although Arboretum staff ask guests not to touch, interact with or feed the animals, for the safety of the animals and people. The area where the goats will congregate is accessible from either entrance, but be prepared for a walk.

The grazing area is between a ¼ and ½ mile walk depending on the trails you take to get there. Approximately 120 goats will chew under the guidance of Rent-a-Ruminant® owners Kyle and Carolyn Carr.

“With the absence of forest grazers (animals that eat the leaves of woody vegetation like deer), the understory of these areas has become very overgrown,” says Stephen Benigno, Ph.D., director of conservation of the Houston Arboretum. “Over time, this will negatively impact tree diversity by preventing young trees from growing through this layer of dense vegetation. Goats will create space in the understory for more diverse vegetation to thrive.

“This environmentally friendly alternative to commercial mowing and herbicides works,” says Executive Director Debbie Markey. “We have had great success with Rent A Ruminant goats over the past few years. And it doesn’t hurt that they have a big crowd-pleaser, especially families with young children. We are always happy to introduce more people to the wonders of the Arboretum.

Rent-A-Ruminant Texas offers a convenient alternative to traditional land clearing, chemicals or commercial mowing. Goats are effective in reducing brush overgrowth, green briars, poison ivy, ragweed and other unwanted plant species. The Carrs operate a ranch in Brownwood, Texas, and have nearly 250 goats in their herd, about half of which travel with them across the state to provide natural shearing services. Goats even have names.

The Houston Arboretum is open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk. Parking costs $6 and is free on Thursdays and free every day for Arboretum members. Customers can enter at 4501 Woodway Dr. or 120 West Loop North, off Interstate 610.

To learn more about the Arboretum, please visit https://houstonarboretum.org/. You can also get more information by calling the Houston Arboretum at 713-681-8433.