Goats in Sligo ?!

In early June 2005, fifteen goats were brought to "Goat Corner," at the Parkway north of Forest Glen. The idea, launched by the Council of Governments, was to see how effective goats could be in removing invasive plants.

Fifteen goats were brought daily for four days.

Fence Browse Line The quesiton was how effective goats could be when placed in a field of about 90% porcelain berry, and other invasive plants. The fence line ended midway up in the picture, where vegetation a week later was much lower than outside the fence line. The right corner of the fence can also be distinguished.

Christine Vatovec had long wanted to see a goat project. She and John Galli launched the idea and received grant money from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service.

Goats were brought from the Wagon Wheel Ranch in Mt. Airy, and watched by a caretaker and Park representative Geoffrey Mason.

A second purpose of the project was to publicize invasive plants. A press conference was held on June 1. Carole Bergmann, invasive plant expert from the Parks Department, is speaking. Behind her is a representative from the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources, John Galli, and Derick Berlage, Chairman, M-NCPPC. Over four days over 200 visitors stopped by.

The Council of Governments reports that the only invasive plant which goats did not touch was garlic mustard. At the start their preferred plant was rose, and Japanese honeysuckle was a close second. By the fourth day the goats were eating porcelain berry.

The goat project brought many people's attention to invasive plants. Two problems with goats in Sligo is that they cannot be trained to avoid eating native plants, and they need to be brought back when roots produce new growth. However, they produced considerable excitement and interest.