Minnesota + Wisconsin Towns Hiring Goats To Kill Invasive Species

I was scrolling through my Facebook feed when an image startled me. It was from our Mayor's Facebook page showing the newest contract employee of the city, Bill. He's a goat, and he's busy working this summer cleaning up the city.

Superior Mayor Jim Paine posted the message on Facebook showing how the city is using natural methods to get rid of buckthorn. Bucuthorn is an invasive species.

Buckthorn is a shrub that's not native to the area and invades Wisconsin forests. They create dense shade that kills off other native species of vegetation.

Mechanical Control - How To Kill Them

Small plants can be removed by hand, while larger plants can be dug up or pulled out. You can also girdle the tree, stripping the bark to expose the inner hardwood.

Chemical Control

There are herbicides that can be used to kill buckthorn, like glyphosate and triclopyr ester. Both of these can have unwanted environmental impacts, especially close to water.

Read More: Did You Know Night Crawlers Are An Invasive Species In Minnesota?

Or - Just Use Goats

Several towns and municipalities have used goats to control buckthorn. Goats are nature's weed whackers. They'll chow down and clear out vegetation. According to Mayor Paine, this is the right tool for the job. It's a steep embankment in Billings Park, and it's right on the St. Louis River, so herbicides aren't a great option.

The Mayor says it's okay to swing by and say hello, but remember, these goats have a job to do.

The city of Maplewood, Minnesota, shared a time-lapse video of how 50 goats cleared an entire area of buckthorn in just 5 days! That's pretty quick!