DEBRA L ROTHENBERG/SHUTTERSTOCK

Grazing Goats!

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

From the September 2022 Issue

Focus Area: Ecosystems,

The Story
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DEBRA L ROTHENBERG/SHUTTERSTOCK

Goats eat plants down to their roots over a few weeks, which eventually stops the weeds from growing.

For six weeks this past summer, a goat herd munched on weeds covering a hillside in New York City’s Riverside Park. It’s challenging for workers to climb the steep slope—but not for goats! That’s why the annual Goatham program, which began in 2019, brings in goats from a local farm to eat the weeds. The name is inspired by the city’s nickname, Gotham. Thanks to the goats, staff don’t need to use herbicides, many of which contain toxic chemicals.

FRANK FRANKLIN II/AP IMAGES

At last year’s Goatham, Chalupa won the hearts of New York City residents, who voted him the top goat.

The hill is covered in poison ivy and invasive plants such as wineberry. These fastgrowing weeds block sunlight from reaching other plants, stunting their growth. They also disturb birds’ nesting sites and reduce water availability.

The goats eat the weeds down to their roots again and again. After several weeks, the weeds weaken and stop spreading. “The goats love eating poison ivy,” says Laura Heckman, who works for Riverside Park Conservancy. The goats’ droppings also add nutrients to the soil, making it healthier for native plants