ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – If you took a walk through the bosque Friday, you probably heard more than 200 furry creatures having lunch.

“The goats are out here munching down on invasive weeds like Tumbleweed and Kosha, and these are fine fuels that can start a forest fire here, that could impact the cottonwoods and the canopy here that we all depend on,” said Dustin Chavez-Davis, a project coordinator for the city’s Open Space Division.

The start of fire season is right around the corner, making this the perfect time to get put these goats to work.

“The goats are more of a natural way to clear that brush and the fire risk. And they’re also helping kind of stir up the soil they’re depositing, you know, their droppings, which will break down and add organic matter to the soil, kind of like a fertilizer,” said Chavez-Davis.

The goats have already munched up a little over four acres so far, and they have a couple left before their next big project.

“This is a real big community thing. We can’t do it without them, they can’t do it without us,” said Abby Lyman, a ranch hand for the Galloping Goats Ranch. 

All the goats are from Galloping Goats Farm, and they seem to be quite the crew because they’re already ahead of schedule.

“We’re getting into the spring and summer, where naturally, their bodies are picking up the pace a little bit. It’s winter time, everybody, everything slows down. So summertime, it all picks up. So they’re getting hungry again, which is super helpful for us,” said Lyman. 

If you are wanting to visit the goats, they will be out munching until Tuesday.