What's good for the goat is good for the gander

<<Sounds of goat bleating>>

Goat Herder Craig Madsen Says:

They eat about 3 percent of their body weight, so you're talking about four or five pounds.

Narrator Says:

They in this case are 270 goats.

So what are they doing at King County Metro's East Base in Bellevue?

They’re doing what comes naturally; eating, sleeping, and helping Metro out in the process.

Shepherd Craig Madsen and his four-legged crew were hired by Metro to help control vegetation at East Base, and also at the Tukwila Park & Ride.

Madsen says he gets curious and positive reactions everywhere he takes his herd.

Goat Herder Craig Madsen Says:

People are curious to see the animals and they're fun to watch, the young ones especially, if there's a rock to play on, they'll play 'king of the mountain', so people just like watching them, and they don't get the opportunity to see that many goats, in a Park & Ride or in Tukwila or other places around very often.

Narrator Says:

To keep his herd confined during their charge to find chow, Madsen takes this portable electric fence along with him.

The task of maintaining both sites has been a challenge for Metro crews because of the rough terrain, steep hills and uneven ground.

As for the goats, this type of terrain makes them feel right at home.

Goat Herder Craig Madsen Says:

It works better in some places than others, especially if it's steeper slopes and some of the more difficult access sites, it works real well at, if it's flat and things like that it might be easier to use equipment, so yeah, they're a good tool, in terms of figuring out which areas are the best for theme to be used at.

Narrator Says:

Furthermore, much of the vegetation around East Base and the Tukwila Park & Ride is just what goats like.

Goat Herder Craig Madsen Says:

A goat's preference is more for what they call browser, brush and shrubs and broad-leafed plants, I mean they'll eat the grass, but it's not their preference, if it's lush and green and growing they'll eat it real well, but once they get more mature they'll the shrubs and other stuff before they'll eat any grass.

They eat for a while, then they'll lay down, chew their cud, and once they've got that worked through, they'll go out and eat some more (laughs).