Goats Work as All-Natural Weed Killers

Officials at one Long Island park are turning to an unlikely group to help combat the area's growing weed problem: goats.

According to a story on WPIX.com, park officials at Kings Point Park in Great Neck, NY. will begin bringing in the four-legged friends as an all-natural method of controlling the park's vine problem.

The 175-acre park has become absolutely overrun by cat green briar, a variety of "smilax" vine, in recent years. The voracious vine grows out of control, destroying public trails, nests, trees and food that sustains local wildlife.

But because the park is a protected wetland, officials can't use chemical treatments to kill the vines (not that they should, because those things are terrible for the earth!). If the goat option wasn't on the table, hiring a crew to hack away at the weeds would cost the city about $100,000. Bringing in a couple dozen goats costs a mere $2,000.

Goats have been used in other places as an eco-friendly method of controlling invasive species like spotted knapweed. This is the first time Kings Point Park will employ goats.

Under the AmeriCorps-sponsored initiative, about 25 goats will partner with 11 volunteers to rid the park of its vine situation. And while we're sure that the park's flora and fauna will appreciate the chemical-free solution, the goats will also be happy about their delicious feast.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.