Riverside Park Conservancy decided that bringing in a new herd of goats (in a project titled Goatham) would be the smartest move to help with the invasive plant problem in a closed off section between 119th and 122nd street in the park.
On June 29 more than a dozen goats journeyed to Riverside Park to reside in the area for the summer and munch on weeds to their heart’s content. You might be wondering why goats seemed like the best animals for the job, right?
Firstly, they’re comfortable being on a sloped terrain and can navigate around it fairly easily and secondly, although Porcelain Berry, Wineberry, Bittersweet, Multiflora Rose, and Poison Ivy are a nuisance to a healthy functioning environment, they’re absolutely delicious to goats (who can actually eat up to 25% of their body weight in a day). Their poop is of course nutrient filled and perfect for the soil, so you could definitely call it a win-win solution: it’s sustainable, chemical-free, and time efficient!
Of the 20 goats initially released in the park, four will call Riverside Park home until the end of the summer–Skittles, Cheech, Elenor, and Big G.
Read more about the initiative here.
If you’d like to get a look at these totally raaaaaaad park guests, you are welcome to visit Riverside Park’s four resident goats all summer long between 119th Street and 122nd Street.
Plus, keep an eye out on Riverside Park’s Instagram for a chance to vote for your class of 2022 favorite goat!