Goats Return to University of Richmond for Extra Credit in Environmental Landscaping

Students at the University of Richmond enter into their final week of classes this week, but for one group of kids, their assignment is just beginning.

On the heels of Earth Day, the university welcomes its second herd of goats to campus to clear away unwanted vegetation Tuesday, April 23. Goat browsing is an environmentally-friendly landscape management practice that reduces the need for herbicide and gas-powered equipment.

The goats come from local business RVA Goats and Honey and will eat away invasive plant species like kudzu, poison ivy, and English ivy.

“Invasive species reduce biodiversity, negatively impact ecological land function, and are less hospitable to native fauna,” says Rob Andrejewski, director of sustainability at UR. “Goat browsing has proven to be an extremely effective and popular way of meeting these challenges head on.” 

More than 100 goats browsed on campus last April, clearing out unwanted vegetation and kicking off UR’s new Eco-Corridor project. 

Last year’s kids received an A+ for their speed and accuracy. This time the herd will clear invasive species around several holes on UR’s disc golf course, which may put their focus and drive to complete the assignment to the test.

You can live stream the herd’s progress this spring via the Goat Cam hosted at sustainability.richmond.edu.

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