NewsFinale
  • Home
  • News
  • Local News
  • Business
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Celeb Lifestyle
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Advertise Here
Gleammour AquaFresh
NewsFinale
  • Home
  • News
  • Local News
  • Business
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Celeb Lifestyle
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Advertise Here
Home Local News Using Goats and Sheep to Maintain Ski Slopes: How Vermont Resorts Are Employing Livestock for Landscaping

Using Goats and Sheep to Maintain Ski Slopes: How Vermont Resorts Are Employing Livestock for Landscaping

Livestock landscaping: Vermont ski areas employ goats and sheep to clear the slopes
Up next
Government shutdown explained: What fed chaos means for your wallet
Understanding Government Shutdown: How It Affects Your Finances
Published on 01 October 2025
Author
NewsFinale Journal
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp


JAY, Vt. – Months before the first snow beckons skiers, sheep and goats are hitting the slopes in Vermont.

Dozens of animals have been mowing down overgrown vegetation at Jay Peak near the Canadian border. They’re expected to clear 25 acres (10 hectares) over a five-week stint, an experiment officials say is worth a try on part of the 300 acres (120 hectares) that need to be mowed. The goal is to gradually reduce the reliance on gas-powered mechanical mowers.

“This year has proven that it can be done and be done successfully,” said Andy Stenger, director of mountain and base area operations. “They’re great employees. They take a lot of lunch breaks, but that’s kind of the idea.”

The animals wear special collars that emit a noise if they get too close to an invisible fence and deliver a mild shock if they cross the barrier. The collars also send data to the herd’s owner, Adam Ricci of Cloud Brook Grazing.

“I can see where they’re spending most of their time. And I also get a heads up if there’s sick animals. I’ll see a drop in activity and then it’ll give me a notification,” he said.

Using livestock for landscaping isn’t new. More than 25 years ago, a New Hampshire electric company used 1,000 sheep to clear vegetation under power lines. In 2010, the University of Georgia brought in goats to control an invasive plant overtaking a section of campus. And the Nashville Chew Crew, a herd of sheep, has been working for the city’s parks department since 2017. New York City has also used goats to clear parts of its parks.

Ricci said his goats and sheep spent a busy summer cleaning up backyards, reclaiming abandoned farmland, gobbling up poison ivy and removing invasive species from the grounds of a retirement community.

“Ideally, we can scale this up to the point where it’s working well and then hopefully develop a model that can be used at other ski resorts as well,” he said. “But there’s still a lot to learn here.”

Further south, Magic Mountain ski area used a herd from Slippery Slope Goats last year to do its mowing. In both cases, the collaboration was facilitated by the Agritech Institute for Small Farms, an organization working to increase access to advanced technology that can help small farms stay in business while mitigating climate change.

Goatscaping reduces the carbon footprint of vegetation control, reduces erosion and increases a site’s capacity to hold water, Ricci said. The cost per acre is similar to mechanical mowing, though he acknowledges the animals are slow.

“Conventional methods, they’re covering this whole entire site in about 10 days,” he said. “So these guys work significantly slower than weed whackers do.”

But employees and visitors at Jay Peak have enjoyed the friendly herd, Stenger said.

“It’s a lot of fun to have them on the mountain,” he said.

____

Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
You May Also Like
SSU VB looks to break attendance record Thursday
  • Local News

SSU Volleyball Aims to Set New Attendance Record This Thursday

SAVANNAH, Ga. () — The Savannah State Lady Tigers Volleyball team is…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • September 30, 2025
At least 91 students remain buried in rubble 2 days after school collapse in Indonesia
  • Local News

91 Students Still Trapped Under Debris 2 Days After School Collapse in Indonesia

SIDOARJO – At least 91 students remain trapped in concrete rubble almost…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • October 1, 2025
New plan for Hotel Aiken, other properties unveiled
  • Local News

New Development Plans Announced for Hotel Aiken and Additional Properties

AIKEN, S.C. () — Downtown Aiken could be getting a major makeover.…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • October 1, 2025
National Storytelling Festival to return for 52nd year
  • Local News

Celebrating 52 Years: The National Storytelling Festival is Back

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) – The International Storytelling Center will host its 52nd…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • October 1, 2025
Man killed after running across U.S. 19 in Tarpon Springs, being hit by 2 cars: police
  • Local News

Man killed after running across U.S. 19 in Tarpon Springs, being hit by 2 cars: police

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (WFLA) — A man was killed Tuesday night after…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • October 1, 2025
Highlights/scores: High school sports (09/30/25)
  • Local News

High School Sports Scores and Highlights (September 30, 2025)

CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) – Highlights and scores from Tuesday night’s high school…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • October 1, 2025
Slagle tapped for vacant Bristol, TN City Council seat
  • Local News

Slagle Appointed to Fill Vacant Bristol, TN City Council Position

BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Bristol, Tennessee City Council filled the vacancy…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • October 1, 2025
SCSO: Citations issued at Romantic Escapades Adult Superstore
  • Local News

Man Charged with Attempted Murder Following Stabbing Incident, Reports SCSO

PINEY FLATS, Tenn. (WJHL) — A Piney Flats man faces attempted first-degree…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • September 30, 2025
New York City high-rise apartment building suffers partial collapse
  • US

New York City high-rise apartment building suffers partial collapse

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A portion of a…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • October 1, 2025
Hundreds protest ICE and federal agents in downtown Chicago
  • US

Hundreds Rally Against ICE and Federal Agents in Downtown Chicago

CHICAGO (WGN) A large protest in downtown Chicago Tuesday evening drew hundreds…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • October 1, 2025
Why Two Contestants Were Kicked Off Survivor 49 Before Filming
  • Celeb Lifestyle

Why Two Contestants Were Kicked Off Survivor 49 Before Filming

Survivor’s Jeff Probst pointing while filming the showVia: CBS Survivor 49 has…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • October 1, 2025
Trump’s bid to fire Fed’s Lisa Cook to be heard by Supreme Court in January
  • US

Supreme Court to Hear Trump’s Attempt to Remove Fed’s Lisa Cook in January

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will hear oral arguments over…
  • NewsFinale Journal
  • October 1, 2025
NewsFinale Journal
  • Home
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Sitemap
  • DMCA
  • Advertise Here
  • Donate