Could goats combat Minneapolis’ invasive species?

Will goats be the city’s future foot soldiers in the war against invasive species?

The unusual idea had some of us at MPLS scratching our heads when we saw Park Board commissioner Brad Bourn had proposed it as a budget priority. It was buried in a list of possible spending areas for 2013, which will get whittled down by commissioners on Wednesday night.

“Consider a pilot project that would introduce grazing animals (goats/sheep) into areas of regional parks to address invasive species and grass length.”

The whole issue may be moot, however. City ordinances already prohibit people from keeping “hoofed animals” unless they are in a stable with appropriate zoning or being “transported expeditiously through the city.”

Story by the Star Tribune, baby goat photo from ksvrbrg on flickr.