City Says Baaaaaa-humbug To Invasive Plants

You may remember a few weeks back a very goat that engaged some of the City and County's finest for several hours on a hoof-chase around town.

Well now Gaithersburg hopes to utilize some more, er, useful goat attributes to help get rid of invasive plant species.

The City's Environmental Services Division is teaming up with the Izaak Walton League of America to have a herd of goats digest a bunch of invasive plants that have sprouted up on the IWL's property and adjacent parcels of land off of Muddy Branch Road.

The grazing will take place over a 16-day period, beginning on July 5.

According to the City, Japanese Stiltgrass, Mile-A-Minute Vine, Autumn Olive, and Oriental Bittersweet have cropped up.

First, the grazing goats will chew through the problem, then an herbicide will be used to keep the weeds from growing back.

Then in the fall, IWL volunteers will replant the cleared areas.

"Goats are an effective means of invasive species control, and many agencies including St. Mary’s City, Anne Arundel County, and Maryland State Highway Administration have used them for this purpose," the City says. "The vendor, Eco-Goats, will provide two herds of goats and all shelter, food and water needed for the duration of their stay.  The goats will be enclosed in an electrified fence which will be moved incrementally to cover the entire treatment area."

Forest Conservation Trust funds may be used to pay for parts of the project, and the replanting will count toward the City's reforestation goals.

If the grazing works, it could be included in a City-wide invasive species management plant.