Eco-Goats October 2009

We had the Eco-Goats for 5 days in temporary fencing on the Swamp Trail and Gravatt Lane (across from the outhouse). The goats cleared enough leaves and vines to make it very easy for the Vine Vindicators to use push-behind Gravely mowers and see where there are downed logs, stumps and debris which normally take a long time to locate and can damage the mowers. The volunteer found that using the goats as the first line of attack was especially effective in this area where the invasives were so thick it was difficult to see the ground.

Non-native invasive plants and vines can take over beautiful natural areas. They reduce habitat for native, beneficial plants necessary for wildlife. Butterflies, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals depend on native plants to survive. The American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT) has used many strategies to remove non-native invasive plants and we are pleased to be able to try this new strategy. Goats love to eat; and it turns out they love to eat invasive plants! We are grateful for a generous grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Landowner Incentive Program who provided the funding for the Eco-Goats.

ACLT has an extensive Non-native Invasive Plant Control Program for the Parkers Creek and Governors Run Watersheds to preserve native rare and endangered species of this area. The volunteer program meets for Vine Vindicator Saturday Workdays one Saturday a month January through October and every Wednesday morning for Weed Whacking Wednesdays (2 hours per week). New volunteers are always welcome! For more information contact: Joy Woppert, Volunteer Coordinator volunteer@acltweb.org or 410-414-3400.

See the goats at work in the slideshow below. Read the article from the October 2, 2009 issue of The Recorder for more information on the project.