Photo courtesy of Carol Vig Photography.
Forget lawn mowers. Northaven TAILS, a herd of goats and sheep, helped manage vegetation along the Northaven Trail from Oct. 2-10.
Over the course of the season, the animals grazed 55 designated pollinator areas between U.S. 75 and Webb Chapel Road, covering 15 acres.
As part of the Friends of Northaven Trail’s TAILS program, the animals helped clear overgrown vegetation and prepare the areas for native wildflowers. The program returned for a second year after its inaugural 2025 season drew community support and raised $34,915 through the organization’s “Give to the Graze” campaign.
According to Will Dawson, fundraiser chair for the Friends of Northaven Trail’s board of directors, using goats and sheep rather than relying entirely on mechanical mowing offers environmental advantages.
“Grazing cuts our reliance on gas-powered mowing, and the animals’ manure puts nutrients back into the soil as it breaks down naturally,” Dawson said. “Mowing unfortunately spreads weeds; by contrast, the animals will eat many of the weeds down to the roots.”
Dawson said mowing also tends to leave a thick layer of thatch, or dead plant material, that can block sunlight and prevent seeds from reaching the soil. Goats and sheep eat the vegetation rather than cutting it and leaving it behind.
“The two species also eat differently: goats go after dense and woody growth, and sheep graze the grasses,” Dawson said.
This year, Friends of Northaven Trail introduced another step in its restoration efforts by spreading native wildflower seeds while the herd was still grazing in the no-mow zones. These areas are allowed to grow throughout the season before being cleared in the fall and reseeded with native wildflowers.
Dawson said the animals’ hooves will press the seeds into the soil and improve germination rates.
Photo courtesy of Carol Vig Photography.
The 2026 herd included approximately 450 goats from Oklahoma and 200 sheep from West Texas. Experienced professional herders monitored the animals and their fencing around the clock, Dawson said.
The herd also had a different way of navigating the trail this year. In 2025, the animals had to be loaded onto a trailer for each road crossing.
“Last year, the herd was loaded onto a trailer for each of its crossings, which was logistically challenging and expensive,” Dawson said. “This year, law enforcement officers of Dallas Police helped the herd cross Hillcrest Road, Preston Road, Inwood Road, Midway Road, Marsh Lane and Royal Lane.”
The program also expanded its reach in other ways. The herd covered 15 acres this year, up from nine acres in 2025, and organizers added a dedicated website with a live map showing the herd’s location and an estimated grazing schedule.
Community participation also grew. Local businesses, families and individuals sponsored all 55 grazing areas, volunteers greeted visitors during opening weekend, and 35 Girl Scouts earned a “Northaven TAILS Trail Stewards” badge. Organizers also brought the animals to four schools to give students an opportunity to learn about the program.
Behind the program’s growth is a community-funded effort to maintain and restore the Northaven Trail’s pollinator areas.
Friends of Northaven Trail is seeking to raise $60,000 to cover the cost of organizing the TAILS project. The program is funded through two initiatives: “Give to the Graze,” which accepts individual donations of any amount, and “Sponsor a Grazing Area,” which offers seasonal sponsorships starting at $500.
The program also received a grant from the Communities Foundation of Texas.
While the goats and sheep have finished their work for the season, the restoration effort will continue.
Friends of Northaven Trail hopes the freshly grazed areas and newly planted wildflower seeds will lead to improved germination rates and more native wildflowers blooming along the trail next spring.
