What's Happening in Abbotsford, BC…

Japanese knotweed is a vigorous and invasive species around Abbotsford, but thanks to some research at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), some four legged pest controllers may provide an answer to the problem.

A herd of 60 goats was set loose on a 6 by 6 meter sized patch of ground that had been overtaken by the plants, and in short order, they had eaten their way through all of it. Though they were quite a bit taller than the goats, it only took them about 45 minutes to chew them right down to the ground.

According to UFV’s Dave Pinton, Japanese knotweed is troublesome because it is very invasive and can grow just about anywhere. It chokes out native plant species and the insects that depend on them. This can have a disastrous effect on the ecosystem that depends on the bugs. They are also perennial and can grow back year after year, even if they are cut down.

The goats will eat the knotweed right down to the ground, which eliminates them for a year. If this is done throughout subsequent seasons, it can kill off the plant’s roots, which means it will not be able to regrow. A company that provides printing services can be used to create publications that let property owners know more about invasive plants such as this and also how to control them.

Mr. Pinton noted that goats are better for the environment than herbicides, and it could be possible to put them to use in the area, including Abbotsford.