GOAT PATROL

The town of Hillsborough has hired the Goat Patrol to remove English ivy on the town hall grounds. The goats will be at the Hillsborough Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 2.

The town’s Tree Board decided last year to use the 16-goat team.

Phil Ray, the current chair of the Tree Board and an arborist for Duke Energy, has been serving on the board for 16 years. Ray said that the board wanted to clean up the town hall grounds.

“The Town Hall campus is one of the important historical sites in the town of Hillsborough and it needs some work,” said Ray.

Much like the rest of the state, Hillsborough has an exotic invasive problem. Many species are spreading quickly and choking out native plants.

Ray said, “There are a lot of different invasives around, but Hillsborough definitely has its share of English Ivy. You don’t have to look far to find it. It just takes over. We want to reclaim our town hall campus.”

Ken Hines, public works supervisor of Hillsborough, is the town representative for the Tree Board. Hines said this is the first time the town has used the Goat Patrol. He said he is excited about this option for clearing unwanted plants.

“I have not received any negative feedback from the public in any way,” said Hines.

Peter Grandstaff, a Hillsborough resident, “I’ve always been a fan of goats for sustainable vegetation control, plus what fun for the kids!”

The Goat Patrol is a team of 16 goats who can eat about 1000 square feet of English ivy per day. The goats are hard workers, clearing shrubbery for eight-to-12 hours per day.

Ray said, “They don’t even take a lunch break!”

The Goat Patrol is owned by Alix Bowman, a Durham resident who started the business to provide an environmentally friendly option for weed and shrub problems.

Bowman said: “Goats are good for the job because there is a very small number of plants they won’t eat or shouldn’t eat. They are best for wholesale clearing jobs rather than detailed landscaping because they will pretty much eat everything.”

The goats will be contained in an electric fence and Bowman will stay with them through the course of the day. Bowman said that she usually has to watch the people more than the goats.

“I have to remind people that the goats are there to work and that it’s not a petting zoo,” said Bowman. “Goats are very social creatures and are easily distracted.”

Ray said that the board did explore other options, such as using manpower or herbicide.

“Using manpower to pull the ivy is a very costly and labor-intensive job,” said Ray. “The goats are a much more cost effect option and are more environmentally friendly than using herbicide.”

This isn’t the first time that a city government has hired the Goat Patrol. The town of Carrboro and the town of Chapel Hill have used the goats to clear unwanted shrubbery.

Bowman said: “A lot of people are looking for a more sustainable option. I have been in business for 18 months and it has been well received in the triangle. I have heard only positive feedback.”

“This will be an experiment for us, but we want to see how it all works,” Ray said. “And this also serves as an educational opportunity for the tree board and the Hillsborough residents.”

Hines said, “People are looking forward to having them come and eat the ivy. We’ll just see how it goes. I mean, who doesn’t love goats?”