Goats Fight Invasive Species at Congressional Cemetery

A herd of 58 "eco" goats are chomping their way through a 1.6 acre-section of Congressional Cemetery, saving the Capitol Hill property from invasive plant species, one bite at a time. 

The goats will be working their way through vines and shrubs — like vines, poison ivy, ground cover and fallen debris — for the next week.

The vines are a problem for the cemetery because they can choke and kill trees, which fall and damage the gravestones and ground nearby. 

The cemetery decided to use goats instead of using herbicides and other chemicals to treat the impacted areas because those chemicals could end up in water runoff into the nearby Anacostia River. 

The cost to the cemetery is about $4,000, which may seem like a lot, but Paul Williams, president of Congressional Cemetery, says when you do the math, it breaks down to 25 cents per goat per hour. 

You can visit the cemetery, 18th Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE, during normal daylight hours. Just follow the signs with arrows and a picture of goats. There is no fee to visit, though donations are welcome. 

The goats will be doing their thing through Aug. 12.