In a developed city like Alexandria, residents may soon be surprised to find four-legged landscapers wandering a West End park.
Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities is launching a pilot program to bring 35 to 40 goats to All Veterans Park (4725 Duke Street). Starting Sept. 8, the herd of goats will be brought to graze on invasive plants on the slopes of the park. The invasive plants being targeted in the pilot program are kudzu, garlic mustard and multiflora rose.
The goats will work behind a temporary electric fence and remain there for five to 10 days, depending on how quickly they can eat the plants. The goats will remain on site throughout the pilot, and a handler will be present to provide water and check on the goats. City staff plan to check the fencing daily and clean up debris in the area one to two weeks after the goat grazing…