Renton’s new animal ordinance run amuck? Nope, just old-fashioned weed control near the airport.

In an age of new environmental sensitivity, jurisdictions like Renton are rediscovering goats as a non-mechanized means to keep unwanted plants under control.

The following pictures are of goats grazing on land near the perimeter road at Renton airport.

Here is a note from our airport management team: (They also provided the photos)
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FYI – we have these goats for a number of days and they will be working the area opposite the B-Ramp along Perimeter Road. This approach was much cheaper and more effective than using labor and equipment to kill the bad plants. Step two, probably this fall/winter, is to replant the area with some sort of native plants.

Ryan

Jonathan Wilson 7/30/2008 4:30 PM
Hello,

Just a heads up – Goat Trimmers LLC has arrived with over 100 goats for use on our West Perimeter Road vegetation.

We have them for the next eight days or so, and they will be monitored by the contractor 24/7.

This should really help us control and eliminate much of the invasive vegetation along West Perimeter Road including Blackberries, Morning Glory, and Knotweed in a “green” way.

Attached are some pictures right after they arrived.

Jonathan Wilson
Assistant Airport Manager
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end of message

Interestingly, today there is a story in the national press about these “Weapons of Grass Destruction” setting off terrorist warning systems in New York City. As someone who has kept goats, I will vouch for two aspects of their perosnalities. (1)They are affectionate and personable, (2) They are escape artists.

I’m sure the goat wrangler that brought the goats to our airport knows this; it’s going to be important to avoid airport runway incursions.

Here is the MSNBC article here