The goats have arrived in Prince George’s County, and they’re already hard at work, munching away an invasive plant species called chocolate vine. Sounds mighty tasty.
The new four-footed residents are part of a new initiative at the Brooke Lane Forest Mitigation Site in Upper Marlboro, Md., clearing the unwanted vegetation in an environmentally friendly way.
Goats have proven to be a "green" way of clearing land, because they can graze on dense, unruly vegetation in areas where mechanical methods and chemical methods fail.
On average, goats can clear a quarter of an acre per day, per herd. The goats are working in herds of 25 to 30 and are expected to be on-site for approximately a week.
A portable electric fence has been installed to contain the goats, and they'll receive 24-hour supervision while they're on the job.
This practice has been used successfully in other areas of the state, as well as throughout the country.
