Goats Have Begun Clearing Frick Park Invasives

Ten Nubian goats are now working to clear four and a half acres of land at Pittsburgh's Clayton Hill.

Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in National Parks

Goats Have Begun Clearing Frick Park Invasives

Live Poll

Should your local park use goats to clear invasive plants instead of using traditional mechanical methods?

A herd of ten Nubian goats arrived at Frick Park in September 2026 to begin removing invasive plant species. The goats will spend approximately one month clearing vegetation to make room for future native growth.

Why it matters

The project serves as an eco-friendly method to eliminate invasive species like multiflora rose and honeysuckle without using chemicals or heavy machinery. This clearance work is a vital step to prepare the soil for native reforestation efforts.

The ten-goat herd will clear 4.5 acres of space at Clayton Hill over the course of one month. Once finished, the site will have the capacity to support up to 600 total native trees and shrubs.

The players

Allegheny Goatscape

This local organization provides goat-based land management services for the maintenance of parks and public spaces.

Frick Park

As the largest municipal park in Pittsburgh, this green space is managed for recreation and local ecological preservation.

The details

The goats consume dense invasive plants, such as border privet and multiflora rose, which are difficult to remove by hand. By grazing these specific areas, they clear the way for students to begin a planting initiative this fall.

The goats arrived at Frick Park for their assignment in September 2026.
The clearing work at Clayton Hill is scheduled to finish in October 2026.
Students will plant 100 trees in the newly cleared space in Fall 2026.

Roadmap

The use of goat grazing reflects a growing shift in the land management industry toward biological, low-impact alternatives for invasive species control. This approach marks a departure from traditional reliance on herbicide applications and mechanical clearing equipment in urban environments.

Park visitors should be aware that the goats are currently active within three designated zones in Frick Park. This initiative is designed to improve local biodiversity, eventually leading to a more robust native forest canopy for the community.

The takeaway

Using livestock for invasive species control provides a sustainable alternative to chemical land management. Residents can observe the restoration process throughout the month as the goats clear space for future native planting.