Goat News: July/August 2025
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In “Goat News” we share goat stories of the current, odd, fun, and important. If there are stories that you’d like us to cover or want to share with us, please email: goatjournal@gmail.com.
Goats for Growth: Springbrook Nature Center Launches Innovative Community Restoration Program.
Springbrook Nature Center, located in Itasca, Illinois, is implementing a groundbreaking environmental initiative that combines sustainability, education, and community fun. This spring, the goats began their work at the nature center, clearing invasive plants. Through this program, the public is invited to participate in special two-week goat work sessions in the summer (July 16 to 29) and fall (September 10 to 23).
Chris Carling, Springbrook Nature Center Supervisor, tells Goat Journal, “The goats are doing more than just eating; they’re helping us restore balance to the ecosystem. Their natural grazing habits are an incredibly effective and sustainable way to control invasive species, such as buckthorn, giving our native plants the space they need to thrive again.”
Lily Medina, superintendent of marketing and communications for the park, adds, “The Goats for Growth initiative has been an exciting way to connect the community with nature. It’s not every day you get to see goats at work, and that curiosity opens the door to learning about restoration, conservation, and the importance of protecting our environment. Our team is focused on doing so in fun and engaging ways.”
The community can get involved through a range of unique events and activities. All proceeds support conservation and restoration efforts. Events include:
- Goat-Powered Ice Cream Socials — Enjoy a sweet treat while learning how goats help the environment.
- Goat Selfie Fundraisers — Snap a memorable photo with one of the adorable goats.
- Goat Poop Parade Fundraisers — Join the fun and see if you hold the lucky “goat drop” ticket to win a prize.
- Name a Goat — Make a $100 donation to name a goat, complete with a certificate.
- Wine and Beer Tasting with the Goats — Enjoy beverages provided by the Church Street while watching the goats work.
- Yoga and Wine in Nature — Relax and unwind outdoors with a rejuvenating yoga session, followed by wine.
- Story Walk — Take a self-guided walk through the nature center and enjoy a featured children’s story along the trail.
- Goat owners nationwide could propose similar activities in their communities to replicate this successful collaboration.
Maryfran Leno, Executive Director of the Itasca Park District, says, “This is the first time we’ve taken such a natural approach to land management, and it’s a meaningful step toward more sustainable practices. Goats for Growth aligns with our mission to efficiently provide conservation experiences that benefit the community.”
Do Goats Exhibit Prosocial Motivation? Insights From a Novel Food-Giving Paradigm.
In a recent study published in the Royal Society Open Science, scientists investigated whether goats exhibit prosocial behavior. These behaviors include social actions that improve the well-being of others, such as helping, sharing, cooperating, and comforting. While historically considered distinctive to humans, scientists have recorded these traits in multiple species, including goats, over the past few decades. Surprisingly, this has also been seen in unrelated individuals.
The study involved using the goats’ natural climbing behavior by creating a device called “The Fake Apple Tree.” A ‘donor’ goat would step onto a platform attached to a pivoting arm, which lowered a food dispenser for a ‘recipient’ goat to get the treat, while the ‘donor’ couldn’t reach the reward.
Of the 12 goats, 10 learned to operate the device spontaneously. In dyadic trials, goats interacted with the Fake Apple Tree more frequently when the food dispenser was active, compared to control sessions where no food was provided.
“Our findings indicate that goats can display prosocial behavior—helping others even without personal gain—when experimental conditions align with their natural tendencies,” Christian Nawroth, a scientist involved with the study based in Dummerstorf, Germany, tells Goat Journal. Nawroth is interested in how animals perceive and interact with their physical and social environment. His research focuses on the cognitive capacities of livestock (including goats, horses, pigs, and sheep) and zoo animals (such as great apes and penguins), and how this knowledge can be applied to improve management conditions and human-animal interactions.
He adds, “This suggests a level of social complexity in farm animals that may have been underestimated. Understanding and encouraging such behavior could have meaningful implications for animal welfare, particularly if helping others proves emotionally rewarding or reinforces social bonds.”
Maybe goats have something to teach humans about fostering social connections and community.
Kenny Coogan lives on a permaculture landscape and runs a carnivorous plant nursery. His educational TV series, “Florida’s Flora and Fauna with Conservationist Kenny Coogan,” will come out in the summer of 2025. Listen to him co-host the “Mother Earth News and Friends” podcast at www.MotherEarthNews.com/podcast.
Originally published in the July 1, 2025 digital issue of Goat Journal
