Berkley Riverfront goats go from fiasco to fan favorite
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Kansas City has turned last year's rogue goat herd fiasco into this summer's most adorable cleanup crew.
Why it matters: Port KC's eco-friendly grazing program is restoring visibility and safety along the Riverfront Heritage Trail without chemicals.
- Plus, trailgoers (me) love these four-legged landscapers, who turn a routine weed-clearing into a feel-good attraction.
Catch up quick: Last year marked the second year of Port KC's goat-grazing initiative to use goats to clear brush around the Riverfront Heritage Trail. After the official herd completed its work, unclaimed goats began appearing; first two, then five, then nine. Goats mysteriously kept appearing along the riverfront, courtesy of anonymous drop-offs.
- With no owner coming forward, the goats roamed the trails and nearby areas for weeks, becoming local celebrities and inspiring a flurry of goat conversation online.
- It took over a month, assistance from a goat whisperer and help from KC Pet Project to round up the last of them.
Driving the news: This year, Port KC partnered with a new local grazing company and erected an electric fence to prevent any repeat escapades.
- The new herd from the new company, Goats Gone Green LLC, arrived on Monday to tackle roughly 2 acres of brush between the Town of Kansas Bridge and the ASB Bridge.
State of play: The goats will be on-site around the clock for about 15 days, literally eating the weeds 24/7.
- The hope is that their work will make the riverfront look cleaner, more inviting and safer for trail users. Thick tangles of invasive plants and poison ivy have been chewed down to stubble.
- Importantly, the goats are doing all this without herbicides that might otherwise be used.
- "We didn't have to use a lot of chemicals. We didn't have to spend a lot of money," said Meredith Hoenes, director of communications with Port KC.
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What they're saying: "I reached out to them because I knew they had issues last year," Kyle Alvis, owner of Goats Gone Green, told Axios. "I wanted to see if I could help them in resolving the issues that they had."
- "Our goats respect the fence," he added. "Once they figure out this is home, they don't go anywhere."
- Alvis also warned visitors to admire from a distance: "Do not try to feed them. Sit and enjoy them, but do not feed them. They have a job to do. It's to eat."
What's next: Port KC is hosting a public Goat Meet and Greet from 9 to 11am May 31 at the Riverfront Heritage Trail.
What we're watching: Port KC hopes to bring the goats back twice a year — spring and fall — and is exploring sponsorships to fund the expanded grazing schedule.
Editor's note: This story has been updated by removing an unclear reference to the city in connection with Port KC's agreement with a new grazing company.