Mississauga's grazing goats will be back on the job this year, the city said on Monday, Feb. 23, as it marked the start of Invasive Species Awareness Week, which runs until Sunday, March 1.

The city used the week to report on its work against non-native plants and insects that crowd out native species in parks, woodlands and natural areas. It said invasive species are the second-largest threat to biodiversity after the loss of habitat.

What the grants paid for in 2025

Mississauga received more than $42,000 last year from the Invasive Species Action Fund, run by the Invasive Species Centre with support from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The city said the money helped its forestry team treat:

  • 1,814 square metres of Japanese knotweed at Iggy Kaneff Park

  • 10,365 square metres of dog-strangling vine at Paul Coffey Park and Birchwood Park

  • 13,246.3 square metres of wild parsnip and 84.6 square metres of giant hogweed across 32 sites

  • 6,216 square metres of tree-of-heaven at nine natural areas

A separate $20,000 grant from the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund, delivered through the Ontario Phragmites Action program, paid for control of invasive phragmites on 9.66 hectares at 44 sites across several watersheds. The tall reed spreads quickly and competes with native plants for water and nutrients.

The city said it is more than halfway through full implementation of its Invasive Species Management Plan at priority sites, five years in.

Goats back in 2026

In 2024, Mississauga became the first municipality in Ontario to use prescribed goat grazing to control invasive plants. The multi-year program covers 1.2 hectares of natural areas at five sites, and forestry staff are running a three-year monitoring framework to measure how well it works in different habitats.

The city describes grazing as a low-impact, chemical-free way to manage invasive plants, and says the goats will return to Mississauga this year.

How residents can help

The city is asking residents to stay on official trails so seeds do not hitch a ride on clothing or pet fur, and to plan for native plants in their gardens this spring. Residents can also learn how to identify, dispose of and report invasive species through the city's forestry pages.

Volunteers can sign up as Mississauga Nature Stewards, who remove invasive plants from an assigned park or natural area with city-supplied tools. Registration runs from Monday, April 6 to Friday, April 17.