CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The goats of Cheyenne are back, and they’re hungrier than ever.
Every year, these fluffy animals are recruited to help manage overgrown vegetation in the city’s creek beds. The hardworking herd is currently stationed at the corner of Ames and Deming Drive, and will move along the Crow Creek bank over the next two weeks, according to city Construction Engineer Sam Berta.
The city is responsible for keeping public waterways free-flowing and unobstructed to prevent flooding. The goats help eat the overgrowth away and remove noxious weeds, including Leafy Spurge and Bull Thistle. With two to three eating cycles a day, an adult goat can remove up to five pounds of grass, which is 1,000 pounds of vegetation per day, according to a press release from the city. By moving along the creek bank, the goats also help stabilize the area, reduce erosion and prevent sediment from moving downstream.
“It’s a win-win solution,” one brown and white goat said while chomping at the vegetation. “The grass is delicious.”*
*Not an accurate translation.
