Edgewater Community Uses Goats To Chomp Away Kudzu

EDGEWATER, MD — The pesky and aggressive kudzu that takes roots in many areas and spreads quickly invaded the South River Park area and became a concern for the Edgewater Beach Shady Side community. It consumed the park, snaked its way into adjacent yards and engulfed the picnic area and tables by the water. No longer were chemical treatments or handpicking the plants working. The best approach to battling it became an interesting one: goats.

Resident Joan Scott learned that the Chesapeake Bay Trust might award a grant to help fund the use of goats to eat up the pesky plants, so volunteers applied for one and a part of the cost of the goat “rental” was awarded the grant through the trust's community engagement mini-grant program.

A herd of more than 30 goats from Browsing Green Goats were delivered to tackle the kudzu. Resident John Greene with the Edgewater Beach Citizens Association said the goats cleared more than an acre in just 24 hours.

"They are definitely voracious," he said.

The eradication project was planned to last a few weeks, but as quickly as the goats are consuming the kudzu, they might be done before the deadline, project volunteers say. Mary Bowen, owner of Browsing Green Goats, is with the herd on a daily basis to oversee the project.