Finals are over. The dorms are vacant. The campus commencement ceremony has concluded. Another academic year has come to a close at Penn State Greater Allegheny. But a new cohort of “kids” is making its way to campus.
Yes, the goats…the goats of Greater Allegheny are back!
The campus has been working with Allegheny GoatScape, a Pittsburgh-based company, to provide goats that assist with the landscaping challenges that arise on campus. The goats are anticipated to work for 4-6 weeks on the areas adjacent to the Wunderley Multi-Purpose Building and the Maintenance Building on the upper side of campus.
“The goats are utilized to get into the deep wooded areas to help address invasive vine and tree species.” Adam Homer, maintenance manager, physical plant, said.
“The goats are part of our team. Without the goats, we would need to look to a heavy mechanical solution to address these issues. This would include excavator equipment,” he added.
Allegheny GoatScape typically provides eleven goats with one donkey, that latter that serves as a guard or protection to the goats from other animals. With the help of the goats, the vegetation is cleared, and the roots of invasive species are killed without the need for heavy equipment, making it a sustainable practice overall.
“The goats are a truly sustainable tool to utilize when trying to address overgrowth and troublesome areas.” Homer continued. “Utilizing goats to assist with our landscaping challenges allows for a less invasive and more sustainable approach to maintaining our grounds and addressing trouble areas.”
After the goats finish their work this spring, they will leave to work elsewhere in the Pittsburgh region, only to return to the campus in the fall for two weeks in early Sept.—just as other students are returning to class—and they will work quietly, to perform their maintenance duties on an area that was previously worked on behind McKeesport Hall.
Story by: Cheyenne Hennen (csh5384@psu.edu)
Be the first to comment on "Goats Getting Back to Work"