You might remember how L.A. recruited goats to clear plants from land for commercial development. Now Maryland has got the goat idea—for lawn mowing, that is. Mowing lawns isn’t just tedious and fuel-intensive: It also poses a threat to bog turtles, a threatened species that makes its home in the grassy areas along a highway project in the state, according to officials. That’s why they’re starting a two-year, $10,000 experimental project to use goats to trim their grass, instead of noisy, gas-guzzling lawnmowers. Goats are cheaper and lighter than cattle, which could also stomp the bog turtles to death. And, of course, there's a side benefit: The goats do the job of a blade-wielding machine without gobbling up precious fossil fuels. We’re not sure how much the goats will charge for their services, but we’re guessing they have pretty competitive rates. Related Content: Discoblog: Are Wind Turbines Killing Innocent Goats? Discoblog: No Kidding: Goat Condom Keeps Herds Chaste Discoblog: Animal Fun Looks a Lot Like Human Fun: Games of Catch and Spa Visits
Image: flickr / ynskjen
