If you’ve ever pulled a spiky hitchhiker out of your shoe, patched a popped bike tire, or carried your limping dog off the sidewalk, you’ve met the infamous goathead. Despite the name, they’re not some desert-dwelling goat menace—they’re the seed pods of puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris), a fast-spreading annual weed with a serious attitude. 

The plant’s Latin name comes from tribulus, meaning “caltrop”—a spiked weapon once used to stop soldiers and horses in their tracks. Fitting, since goathead burrs do the same thing to tires, feet, and paws today. The nickname “goathead” comes from the seed pod’s resemblance to a goat’s skull—horns and all. Once you’ve seen it (or stepped on it), it’s hard to forget. 

Unfortunately, goatheads are more than just painful—they’re invasive and aggressive, especially during the heat of summer. They spread fast, take over neglected spaces, and leave a trail of tire patches and sore paws behind. 

Read on to learn how to spot goatheads, remove them effectively, and help keep your neighborhood safe from this prickly pest. 

What Are Goatheads?

Goatheads are low-growing annual vines that thrive in hot, dry spots like sidewalks, trails, alleys, gravel parking lots, and forgotten garden beds. From a central taproot, they send out sprawling stems covered with: 

• Compound leaves with small, oblong leaflets. The leaflets are hairy can be found in pairs of 3 to 7 on each leaf.

• Tiny yellow flowers (easily missed, but they’re there!) 

• Those notorious spiky seed pods—the actual “goatheads” that break apart into hard, thorny burrs 

• Each plant can crank out thousands of seeds, and those seeds are masters of disguise and travel—they cling to shoes, bike tires, lawnmowers, and animal fur, spreading far and wide. 

Why Are Goatheads Such a Big Deal?

They might look like just another weed, but goatheads cause major headaches: 

Tire trouble: One spiky seed can pop a bicycle tube in seconds. 

Pain for pets and people: Their sharp spines easily puncture skin and paws, leaving painful reminders. 

Landscape takeover: They grow quickly and crowd out native plants and garden favorites. 

Long-lasting seeds: Goathead seeds can lurk in the soil, waiting to sprout, for five years or more. 

They’ve become a widespread problem across parks, sidewalks, schoolyards, and trails throughout the Treasure Valley—and probably your neighborhood, too. 

How to Remove Goatheads (and Keep Them from Coming Back)

August is prime time for goathead growth and seed production, so now’s the moment to strike. Here’s how to fight back: 

Act fast: Pull plants before they flower or produce seeds, if possible. 

Suit up: Wear thick gloves—those seed pods hurt! 

Go deep: Carefully dig out the entire plant, taproot and all, to prevent regrowth. 

Bag it: Collect all pulled plants and seed pods—don’t compost them; toss them in the trash instead. 

Stay vigilant: Check known trouble spots weekly. Goatheads are sneaky and can reappear quickly. 

Don’t rely solely on herbicides: They may kill the plants above ground but won’t destroy seeds already on the plants—or the stubborn seeds lying dormant in the soil. 

Persistence is key. Even if you clear plants today, seeds from years past might still sprout. Keep at it season after season, and you’ll start to see progress. 

Want to Do More? Join the Goathead-Free Effort!

The City of Boise runs a fantastic Goathead-Free campaign every summer with: 

• Community removal events 

• Tips for identification and safe disposal 

• A public reporting map 

• A friendly competition through Goathead Fest 

Check out boiseenvironmental.org/goatheads to get involved, share info with neighbors, or report infestations in your area. 

One Weed, One Season, One Patch at a Time

Goatheads are tough, but with a little community teamwork and regular removal, we can protect our parks, trails, and yards from this prickly pest. Whether you’re pulling them out of your gravel path or helping at a neighborhood event, every patch counts. 

Let’s stop the spread—one weed, one season, one patch at a time.