Hungry Goats Battle Invasive Plants in Upper Marlboro

As part of a new green mitigation initiative, the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation is using goats to combat invasive plant species in Upper Marlboro.

The goats were introduced into the Brooke Lane Forest Mitigation site last week and are “happily munching away” on invasive plant species, according to a press release. Goats are an environmentally friendly and ecologically sound way of fighting invasive plant species that have proven to be resistant to herbicides and unable to be tamed by lawn mowers or weed whackers, according to the release.

Goat herds of 25 to 30 will be contained by a portable electric fence. Supervision will be provided 24-hours a day while the goats tackle areas of dense vegetation, clearing out invasive plants at the Brook Lane site. The goats can clear up to a quarter of an acre of vegetation a day, and are expected to be on site for about one week.

This method of invasive species removal has been used successfully in other areas of Maryland and throughout the country.