A Herd of Goats is On the Loose At the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

The future of sustainability is upon us – goats are impacting the environment. Well, one environment in particular – the Congressional Cemetery.

These eco-friendly creatures have been chomping away at poison and English ivy for a week – eating over an acre per day. The ivy impairs the cemetery’s trees and endangers the gravestones, and with the help of a herd of goats, this symbolic cemetery will be restored and replenished in only seven days.

This low-impact alternative to chemical pesticides will hopefully usher in a new generation of land maintenance in the United States. This method helps the environment and gives these fuzzy creatures a break from eating their regular meal of grass. These goats are also becoming celebrity icons, luring in residents and tourists to the distinguished Congressional Cemetery. I mean, what tourist destination wouldn’t want those benefits?

As reported on the Washington Post, “The 206-year-old cemetery, owned by the Christ Church and run by a nonprofit, figure the goats are a cheaper and less toxic way of cleaning up the 35-acre property, which borders the Anacostia Watershed.”

Washington Post further states, “For the cemetery, the $4,000-a-week cost of employing the herd — which grew to 55 after an additional 30 goats arrived in the afternoon — could solve an expensive problem."

Given the historic significance of the cemetery, this sustainable choice seems appropriate. As reported on ABC News, “The Congressional Cemetery is home to nearly 200 congressmen and their families. Famed FBI director J. Edgar Hoover is buried there.”

Huffington Post mentions other significant people buried there: “Leonard Matlovich – the first person to challenge the U.S. military's ban on gay service members, George Washington's personal secretary, dozens of members of Congress, two vice presidents and John Wilkes Booth conspirator David Edgar Herold.”

Could this sustainable alternative take precedence over chemical herbicides and pesticides indefinitely? It’s cheaper, less toxic, and you get to watch these charming, woolly animals naturally clean up our habitat. You definitely can’t go wrong with this renewable energy source – goats. Well, unless you aren’t looking where you’re walking.