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Goats being used to clear brush, noxious plants at Firemen's Memorial Park in Aspinwall | TribLIVE.com
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Goats being used to clear brush, noxious plants at Firemen's Memorial Park in Aspinwall

Michael DiVittorio
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Mike DiVittorio | Tribune-Review
Monica Shields, co-owner of Capricious Goats, oversees brush-clearing operations at Firemen’s Memorial Park in Aspinwall on June 21.
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Mike DiVittorio | Tribune-Review
Joe Shields of Capricious Goats tends to the goats, which are clearing out overgrown brush and noxious plants at Firemen’s Memorial Park in Aspinwall June 21.

People along the walking trail of Firemen’s Memorial Park in Aspinwall may see some new landscapers hard at work.

Borough officials are using goats to clear the hillside along the Allegheny River.

Six of nature’s lawnmowers started their efforts Tuesday, June 21 and are expected to be in the park for at least two weeks.

“We’ve been trying for years to figure out a way to get that overlook trimmed,” said borough Manger Melissa O’Malley. “But because of how steep it is and how thick the vegetation is, it was cost prohibitive. For a tree trimmer to get down and do that, they would have to rappel (down the hill) and all that kind of stuff. We had heard from different communities they had used goats to make that happen, but I didn’t know who to reach out to for it.”

Fortunately, such a company had sent out letters to various municipalities informing them of goat opportunities. O’Malley said she received the letter and reached out to Capricious Goats, run by McCandless couple Monica and Timothy Shields.

Cost for services depends on the size of the site, number of goats used and time it takes to clear the area. Monica Shields said the goats are fenced in with a solar-powered electric fence to keep them from wandering and to keep onlookers from petting them.

O’Malley said Aspinwall’s agreement is for $3,500 for work just at the park’s hillside for about three weeks.

So far, council and residents’ feedback has been positive.

“They are all very excited to see the goats and figure out how it all works,” O’Malley said.

A video of the goats in action at the park was posted to Aspinwall’s Facebook page.

Capricious Goats started in 2020 sometime after the family inherited about 62 acres of overgrown farmland in Beaver County.

Monica Shields said the family consulted with a forester through the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to find the best way to maintain the property while continuing to raise honey bees and grow wood for furniture.

Shields said goats turned out to be the best option, and the family began renting their goats to others after people stopped by to see them in action.

Capricious Goats is use this month in Oakmont. It began clearing noxious plants in the Edgewater housing development June 6.

Information is available at the company’s website, capriciousgoats.com.

Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.

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Categories: Fox Chapel Herald | Local | North Allegheny | Valley News Dispatch
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