Goats dine on Reardan's weeds

REARDAN – On Tuesday, July 16, over 150 goats descended on Reardan to clear 10 acres of vegetation from the Washington State Department of Transportation right of way next to the railroad tracks.

After the August 2023 fire in Medical Lake, Mayor Gail Daniels drove around town looking for potential fire dangers.

"I never want our town to experience anything like the horrific fire in Medical Lake," Daniels said. "If I can help identity risks to our community, I am doing my job."

Daniels contacted WSDOT, requesting it clear the bare land along the railroad tracks to mitigate the threat of fire. WSDOT contracted the cleanup job with Craig and Sue Lani Madsen, owners of Cloverdale Ranch of Edwall.

Craig Madsen corralled the goats behind an electric fence on land east of Highway 231 between Columbia Avenue and Railroad Avenue. There, the mixed breed Boer and Kiko goats can graze on a buffet of Dalmation Toadflax, Knapweed, Skeletonweed and broadleaf weeds. A nearby residence is providing the goats with water from a hose.

"Goats actually prefer weeds over luscious grass and don't mind thorns," Madsen said. "Weeds hold their nutritional value longer."

Madsen said goats are an excellent option for vegetation control.

"Unlike mowers, there is no fire danger, and they can work on rocky irregular topography," he said.

Madsen expects it will take the goats two weeks to clear the vegetation. WSDOT is paying for the cleanup.