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Chico Today
By the People, for the People
Goats Return to Chico's Bidwell Park to Clear Vegetation, Reduce Wildfire Risk
The herd of 350-400 goats from Paradise Grazing Company will graze 20 acres to help prepare the park for upcoming events.
Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:52am
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Chico's innovative use of goats to manage vegetation in Bidwell Park showcases a creative, eco-friendly approach to reducing wildfire risk and enhancing public spaces.Chico TodayHundreds of goats have returned to Chico's Bidwell Park to graze on overgrown vegetation and reduce wildfire risk. The city has deployed about 350 to 400 goats from Paradise Grazing Company to the Cedar Grove and World of Trees areas, where they are expected to clear roughly 20 acres over the next few weeks. This is part of Chico's Vegetative Fuels Management Plan to support ecosystem health and make the park more user-friendly ahead of events like the Endangered Species Fair and Shakespeare Festival.
Why it matters
Using goats for vegetation management is a more environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides, and helps prepare Bidwell Park for public events by reducing fire risk and improving accessibility. The goats' presence also highlights Chico's efforts to balance park maintenance, public safety, and ecosystem preservation.
The details
The goats will graze about one acre per day, eating dry grasses, brush, and invasive species. City officials say this is part of a multi-pronged approach that also involves mechanical work to further reduce fuels. Grazing with goats is more cost-effective than bringing in machinery in certain areas of the park. To ensure public and animal safety, the grazing areas are enclosed with electric fencing and monitored by a herdsman and guard dogs.
- The goats are currently concentrated in the Cedar Grove area of Bidwell Park.
- The grazing is expected to continue through the end of April 2026.
The players
Paradise Grazing Company
The company that provided the 350-400 goats deployed to Bidwell Park for vegetation management.
Shane Romain
The parks and natural resource manager for the City of Chico, overseeing the goat grazing project in Bidwell Park.
What they’re saying
“Right now, we have the goats in the Cedar Grove area of Bidwell Park, and they're here to help with vegetation management. Our primary goal in this area is to knock back the poison oak.”
— Shane Romain, Parks and Natural Resource Manager, City of Chico
“We have some big events coming up, like the Endangered Species Fair and the Shakespeare Festival, and we want to make this area a little more user-friendly.”
— Shane Romain, Parks and Natural Resource Manager, City of Chico
What’s next
The city will continue to monitor the goat grazing and evaluate the cost-benefit ratios of using goats versus traditional equipment for vegetation management in different areas of Bidwell Park.
The takeaway
Chico's use of goats for vegetation management in Bidwell Park demonstrates a creative, environmentally-friendly approach to reducing wildfire risk and preparing the park for public events. This highlights the city's efforts to balance park maintenance, public safety, and ecosystem preservation.
