Goats go to work as golf course landscapers in Hoffman Estates

The Hoffman Estates Park District has enlisted a herd of hungry goats to clear the nonnative plants from the natural areas of the Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club golf course.

Nearly 40 four-legged lawn mowers arrived at the course Thursday, provided by The Green Goats, a company based in Monroe, Wisconsin.

"We are always looking for ways to maintain out-of-play areas and I was introduced to The Green Goats," Superintendent of Golf Operations Dustin Hugen said in a written statement. "This was a very appealing option as there is very minimal labor involved and it's arguably the most environmentally-friendly approach to clearing natural areas."

The goats are kept within a temporary, 12-volt electric fence. Inside the fence, the goats have many water and salt stations and can clear between 150 and 300 square feet per day.

The Green Goat owner Kim Hunter said the animals graze on the plants they prefer at the start, but ultimately eat anything green and not dried out.

The goats and their fenced-in area will be moved to different areas of the golf course every few days over the next two weeks, officials said.