DEADWOOD, S.D. — July 8, 2025 — A herd of 24 goats is taking on a new job in the Black Hills—clearing invasive brush and reducing fire danger through a unique partnership between T-Top Timber & Homestead Co. and Dakota Gold Corp.
The targeted grazing project officially launched this week on Dakota Gold’s property along Maitland Road near Deadwood. It’s a move designed to manage overgrowth in an environmentally responsible way—without chemicals, bulldozers, or burn piles.
“Goat grazing is one of the most effective and sustainable methods for controlling invasive vegetation,” said Jerrid Geving, owner and founder of T-Top Timber & Homestead Co. “They access steep, rocky, and otherwise difficult terrain that machinery can’t reach—naturally managing overgrowth while improving soil health and reducing wildfire risk.”
The goats will spend the coming weeks working their way through thick underbrush, consuming plants that are often fuel for wildfires. Their presence also helps aerate the soil and return nutrients through natural fertilization, contributing to long-term land restoration.
Dakota Gold, a mining exploration company operating in western South Dakota, emphasized that the effort reflects a broader commitment to responsible land use in the Black Hills region.
Site visits, press interviews, and educational tours of the live grazing project are available by request. Organizers hope this pilot initiative sparks broader conversations around eco-friendly vegetation management in the Rapid City area and beyond.
The project comes at a time when wildfire mitigation strategies are increasingly critical across South Dakota. With dense forest and unpredictable drought conditions in the region, innovative methods like targeted grazing may become more common in Black Hills land management practices.
