Goats released in New York City park to eat invasive weeds
By Roselle Chen
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Greater than a dozen goats journeyed to Riverside Park in New York Metropolis on Wednesday to feast on weeds, a chemical-free option to take away invasive species whereas including to the thrill of nature.
The furry guests arrived in Manhattan from Inexperienced Goats farm in Rhinebeck, New York, earlier within the day to gobble up overgrown brush – even species harmful to people, like poison ivy.
“Have you ever seen this slope over right here? I’m advised it’s the steepest river financial institution east of the Palisades,” mentioned John Herrold, interim president and chief govt of the Riverside Park Conservancy.
“Think about making an attempt to maintain your stability when you’re pulling out invasive crops to be able to plant native species that can higher maintain the soil and supply higher habitat for the wildlife.”
Goats are an ingenious method to weed removing, harnessing their pure starvation for leafy greens as the first mechanism behind the duty, which historically entails pollutant chemical compounds.
“They love these things,” mentioned Herrold. “They eat poison ivy, they eat the porcelain berry, they eat the multiflora rose and that is what we’re making an attempt to do away with.”
Of the 20 goats, 4 will name Riverside Park dwelling by means of the tip of summer season, consuming their approach by means of two acres of the park.
(Reporting by Roselle Chen; further reporting by Aleksandra Michalska; modifying by Diane Craft and Richard Chang)
