Could goats be forest preserve district’s secret weapon against invasive plants?

Four-legged reinforcements may be enlisted to help battle invasive buckthorn in Lake County forest preserves.

The idea is in the formative stage, but forest district commissioners appear amenable to launching a pilot program to determine if grazing goats or sheep can help manage the pesky invaders.

Buckthorn and other woody invasive species are considered among the greatest threats to natural areas across the region, and in Lake County comprise more than 52% of all trees, according to the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

Reducing that amount is a specific objective in the district's 100-year vision to restore and preserve natural lands and create healthy landscapes.

District natural resources staff say livestock grazing could be a way to address areas that aren't being managed, or managed enough, and may not be prioritized for more costly measures.

“While grazing is not anticipated to fully replace herbicides or other invasive control practices, it could provide a potential alternative to accomplish objectives in a cost-effective manner,” according to information being presented this week to forest board committees.

The pilot agreement likely would allow six to eight sheep or goats to graze on two or three acres of district land for up to four years. The pilot likely would be at Almond Marsh Forest Preserve near Grayslake, an area which has no known rare, threatened or endangered species to avoid good stuff being eaten with the bad.

Commissioners appear receptive to the idea but requested more detail regarding animal care, including during bad weather, before entertaining a specific proposal.

“We just want some of those questions answered before we move forward,” said planning committee Chair Paul Frank.

That will be forthcoming as soon as possible so an agreement with a third party grazer can be reached, said Matt Ueltzen, the district's manager of restoration ecology.

The hope is that animal welfare concerns can be addressed and an agreement inked by spring, according to Ueltzen. Grazing would begin in spring or summer.

Grazing isn't an uncommon practice but would be new to the forest preserve district. It's considered a research project to understand longer term costs and effectiveness.

“We think this could be a way to provide additional management to degraded areas containing buckthorn,” and help achieve a 100-year plan objective, he said.

The agreement would last four years, which matches terms of farm leases, but could be canceled or expanded depending on results.