Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

They're Baa-ack! Goat Herd Returns to Prospect Park for Weed-Eating Job

By Rachel Holliday Smith | August 19, 2016 11:48am | Updated on August 22, 2016 8:35am

The chew crew is back.

A herd of goats hired by the Prospect Park Alliance earlier this year to clear out invasive species and weeds from the park’s Vale of Cashmere have returned to their job after they gobbled themselves out of the gig in late June.

The six-goat group — now less two of the original weed-munchers, Raptor and Skittles, who have remained at home in Rhinebeck, New York, the Alliance said — will be led to particularly overgrown areas everyday by park staff, then returned to their overnight pen each night.

 

A photo posted by prospect_park (@prospect_park) on

Mary Keehbauch, foreperson of the Prospect Park Alliance Natural Resources Crew, oversees the park's goats. (Photo credit: Prospect Park Alliance/Bianca Nelson)

The goats are given water and shelter, but only a small amount of food so they stay hungry for the poison ivy and goutweed that needs to be cleared from the vale, which is set to be restored soon.

Though the goats will be fenced in while they do their work, the public is invited to visit them during park hours. The animals are usually located near the Zucker Natural Exploration Area on the park’s east side.