Goats Return to Barker Stewart Island in Wausau

Monday, July 11th, 2022 -- 9:00 AM

(Mike Leishcner, WSAU) The noxious weed-eating goats will soon return to Barker Stewart Island in Wausau.

According to Mike Leischner of WSAU, Mayor Katie Rosenberg said, “They’re putting the fence up on Barker Stewart Island and we’re expecting, you know, several dozen goats to join us for the next few weeks.”

She says parks staff is expecting more great results from the animals in controlling noxious weeds. “They ate a lot of that buckthorn and honeysuckle. And now we’re just discovering what else they can eat. We had a good presentation on some invasives around here. It’s important to take care of those before they choke out our native habitat.”

She says not only is it reasonable to rent them, but there's also environmental benefits too. “Using goats instead of chemicals is also a reward of not having to use chemicals because we’re right by the river.”

The city will also likely hold another petting zoo-style information day for residents in the 400 block about the goats later this summer, though Rosenberg says that's not currently scheduled.

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