Goats and Sheep are Grooming the Summer Slopes at Vermont’s Jay Peak

Positive slope conditions begin below the snow. Thanks to a solid team of four-legged chewers, trail maintenance is moving ahead at Vermont’s Jay Peak Resort this summer.

The buzz of weed whackers once again gave way to bleats and hooves this week as Jay Peak welcomed back its now-famous Chew Crew, a herd of Vermont-raised goats and sheep tasked with tackling part of the resort’s annual trail maintenance. The crew arrived in late July, marking the beginning of another season of natural vegetation management across the mountain.

What began as a pilot program last fall has returned after proving that goatscaping can be an effective, lower-impact way to manage vegetation on downhill and Nordic trails. In the coming weeks, the herd will rotate through designated sections of terrain, grazing plants that can be difficult to manage with traditional equipment. Each animal wears a GPS-enabled radio collar connected to a cellular geofencing system that keeps the herd within designated grazing areas. They’ll move approximately every two days, accompanied by a guardian dog that protects them from potential predators overnight.

Earlier this year, the program received the 2026 National Ski Areas Association Golden Eagle Award, recognizing innovative environmental stewardship within the ski industry. The award illustrates the resort’s combination of sustainable land management, support for local agriculture and potential to reshape how ski areas approach vegetation maintenance.

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Traditionally, Jay Peak maintained roughly 340 acres of ski trails and glades each fall using gas-powered trimmers. Goats can consume poison ivy, sumac and other invasive vegetation without harm, reducing the mechanical mowing, fuel use, emissions and noise required during one of the busiest preparation periods before winter.

“Last year’s pilot showed us this could be more than just a fun idea,” said Jay Peak’s Andy Stenger, Director of Mountain and Base Area Operations. “The animals did exactly what we hoped they would, and they reached places that are difficult and time-consuming for crews to maintain with equipment. It’s a practical way to reduce our environmental impact while supporting a local Vermont farm.”

“We also didn’t fully anticipate how much people would embrace the project. Guests asked where the goats were, families hiked out to watch them work, and it became another reason to get outside and experience the mountain.”

Managed grazing can also improve soil health through natural fertilization, reduce erosion and encourage the return of native wildflowers and pollinators, creating benefits that extend beyond vegetation management.

Last season, the herd spent five weeks grazing approximately 15 acres of ski trails. While the pilot covered less terrain than anticipated, it eliminated an estimated 240 hours of gas-powered trimming, reduced the resort’s carbon footprint by approximately 288 pounds of CO₂ and kept vegetation management dollars in Vermont through partnerships with Cloud Brook Farm and the Agritech Institute for Small Farms.

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Beyond their environmental benefits, the Chew Crew has quickly become one of Jay Peak’s most unexpected guest attractions, with hikers, golfers and families making detours expressly to see the animals at work.  

The goats will also take a break from mountain maintenance to appear at Jay Peak’s 17th Annual Bean & Brew Festival on Oct. 17, where guests can meet, pet and admire some of the resort’s hardest-working seasonal employees.

What began as an experiment is also drawing attention beyond Jay Peak. Businesses throughout Vermont and New Hampshire are reaching out to the resort as they explore similar approaches to vegetation management.