Suzanne Forte got her goats, and she loves them.
A herd of goats are having an eating party at the former United Rental property across from the Covington library along with their watchdog, Cooper. The dog makes sure coyotes stay away from the herd.
The 30 goats —mostly pygmy — belong to Suzanne Forte, whose father-in-law, Ron Forte, owns the property. She is married to Ron Forte’s son, Paul Forte.
According to Suzanne Forte, the herd was brought to Covington to get the family property cleared of foliage. The site will eventually be placed on the market.
She has been using her herd of goats in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where she lives, to clean up areas for the city and private citizens.
“I originally wanted goats to take down knapweeds in my horse pasture,” Forte said. “I didn’t want to spray anything on the pasture where my horses eat.”
The goat business started through word-of-mouth advertising for Suzanne Forte. After she bought some goats, people began contacting her to rent the goats in the Coeur d’Alene area and the herd has been kept very busy eating and clearing areas.
The herd will stay about a week at the property in Covington.
“These 30 will stay here and work,” Suzanne Forte said. Her nephews, Mike and Jake Gould, and sister-in-law, Gina Forte, will work with the herd around the area.
Suzanne Forte said when the goats are clearing property, “fence security is the No. 1 thing.” She said if the goats do get out they usually do not stray far because they are herd animals .
According to Suzanne Forte, the cost of hiring the goats to clear property of foliage depends on the site, but roughly it will run about $5 per day for each goat plus some labor and delivery charges.
The goats are checked each day.
Goats are often hired to clean shorelines where herbicides cannot be used and steep terrains, Suzanne Forte explained. The goats are also used for property where industrial equipment has been overgrown by weeds.
“They will eat blackberries, vines and all, right down to the ground,” she said.
The goats Suzanne Forte chooses are usually pygmies and always very friendly.
The next stop for the herd will be Bonney Lake. The goats will clear an area as part of a Boy Scout project for Mike Gould.
Suzanne Forte maintains a website for her goats,
greengoatrentals.com.
