Fall goat flap may lead to updated regulations, new fines for violating leash law in county parks

A herd of weed-eating goats left town early in November because of law breakers, now the El Paso County Park Advisory Board is set to consider changes to make sure they come back in 2016.

For 17 years, Lani Malmberg has been bringing a herd of goats to Bear Creek Regional Park from Wyoming. The goats eat noxious weeds, helping with weed control and fire mitigation. They also create a natural, organic fertilizer and trample it into the soil.

Typically, the goats stay at the park for two to three weeks. But in 2015, the goats left after less than a week. Malmberg said some dog owners were breaking the law, refusing to keep their dogs on a leash.

“It’s a problem that’s gotten out of hand, and now it’s going to be much more difficult to stop it,” she said. “It makes me very angry. It’s a shame for the land.”

Malmberg said that if the goats were to be scared off and go onto 21st street causing a wreck, she would be liable. She asked for rules to be enacted this year so that dogs will stay clear while the goats do their work.

Under the current rules, dogs must be kept on a leash except in the designated dog park area, but there is no citation system in place. Right now, the park security officer can only give verbal warnings to dog owners who break the law.

At its meeting on January 13, 2016, the Park Advisory Board will consider updates to its rules and regulations which would include a proposal for county security to be able to issue fines to owners of off-leash dogs.

The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Centennial Hall, which is located at 200 S. Cascade Avenue.