What Do Dogs and Weeds Have to Do With Each Other?

A Call for Awareness

As you stroll through the park this month, you’ll notice a colorful array of blooms—some welcome, others less so. Many of these wildflowers are invasive weeds, and they’re spreading fast. Houndstongue’s sticky burs hitch rides on dog fur and shoelaces, traveling along the trails and helping the plant spread further. Other major weeds to watch for include teasel, Canadian thistle, and hoary cress.

This is a great time to focus on weed awareness. Our Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crews are hard at work, but they need your help, too. Keep an eye out for unique chicken wire sculptures popping up around the park. These aren’t just eye-catching—they’re educational. As the season progresses, the sculptures will be filled with noxious weed flowers and seed heads, visually tracking the crews’ progress and helping educate visitors about the impact of invasive species.

We’re also excited to share that we’re partnering with Chamisa Goatworks this season to complete some regenerative grazing and targeted noxious weed removal. By bringing in goats to selectively graze problem areas, we’re using a natural, sustainable approach to manage invasive plants and restore healthier, more diverse plant communities. This method helps reduce weed populations and supports the long-term health of our park’s ecosystem.

Paws in the Park

This month, we’re also celebrating the Paws in the Park youth program. Designed to teach young people about dog body language, proper interactions, and basic training principles, this program goes beyond simple obedience. Participants learn about the emotional lives of animals and how these experiences mirror and differ from our own.

By understanding how dogs communicate, youth develop empathy and build stronger connections, not just with animals but with each other and the wider community. Both dogs and young people benefit from these experiences, feeling more understood and connected.

Both dogs and weeds are part of our park’s ecosystem.This June, let’s keep our eyes open for both chicken wire sculptures and wagging tails as we work together to make our park a better place for everyone.

Other June Highlights

Taos Behavioral Health is now visiting us every two weeks for hands-on outdoor programs. They’ve rented one of our community garden beds and, last week, worked together as a team to get their plot weeded and planted. It’s wonderful to see new groups connecting with the land and each other through gardening and outdoor activities.

Our Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is also back in action! We’ve got a fantastic crew of 18 young people joining us in the park Monday through Thursday, tackling a variety of projects. This week, they’re focused on filling our compost bioreactors and finishing the fence around the gardens. Next week, they’ll be sprucing up the perimeter trail, so keep an eye out for their hard work in action!

Looking Ahead: Celebrating 10 Years of Rio Fernando Park

Save the date! We’re already planning our fall festival, which will be a free community celebration marking 10 years of Rio Fernando Park. This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of so many in our community, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you. Stay tuned for more details as the season progresses—we look forward to sharing this special occasion with everyone who has helped make Rio Fernando Park the vibrant, welcoming space it is today