KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Nearly two dozen goats are on the job at the 1,000 Islands Environmental Center in Kaukauna.
They’re chewing unwanted plants, while becoming a favorite attraction for visitors.
Some of the young animals stand only about a foot tall, but they seem to be hungry.
“We have 18 goats. There’s 10 adults, and eight kids,” said Erin Thompson, Goat Program Coordinator.
Thompson tells FOX 11 the goats are on loan from Mulberry Lane Farm near Hilbert, and are on the half-acre site to work.
“They can eat primarily buckthorn, which an invasive shrub, as well as undesirable plants like poison ivy and poison oak.”
Thompson says buckthorn is a common invasive plant at the 1,000 Islands Environmental Center, and it can grow two or more feet tall, and choke out native species. She says the goats tend to target things at their eye-level or above.
“They defoliate buckthorn, so they eat all the leaves off which basically stunts their growth, or it doesn’t allow buckthorn to spread as quickly.”
Volunteers called “Goat Watchers” are on hand to help. They say they are amazed how well the animals do their job.
“Just eat, and eat, and eat. It’s crazy,” said Shelby Schweitzer, Kimberly.
She says the work is important.
“So it doesn’t become overgrown with invasive species that are growing in the area.”
Alan Deeg is visiting with his family. He says goat watching is a must.
“One over there was just trying to climb a tree. Just the little ‘baa,’ like they’re talking to you, and the kids really enjoy it.”
The goats are scheduled to be on site until Friday.
“Lots of people come specifically to see the goats. So it attracts a lot of public attention. I think it’s really fun for kids to come and see goats outside the context of a farm, because there’s something kind of like magical about seeing the goats in the woods,” said Thompson.
Officials say the goat program is seeing results.
They say since 2018, native plants such as wild garlic, and trillium have been seen in areas once dominated by invasive species.
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