Goats are being used to clear invasive plants at 1000 Islands Environmental Center in Kaukauna. Mulberry Lane Farm photo
Goats are being used to clear invasive plants at 1000 Islands Environmental Center in Kaukauna. Mulberry Lane Farm photo

KAUKAUNA — The popular invasive plant eating goats will return to the 1000 Islands Nature Center this spring, and signups for volunteer.watchers are under way.

The goats will return to the Conservancy Zone on June 9-22, 2025 and staff is looking for volunteer goat watchers.

SIGN UP HERE

1000 Islands is looking for volunteers to supervise the goats and inform the public about the purpose of the goats.

Also, goat watchers will be able to enter the browsing area to help pull down branches for the goats to eat.

The program goes back to 2018 when 1000 Island began bringing in goats from Mulberry Lane Farm, to help manage invasive and other unwanted plants from the Conservancy Zone.

The goats are encouraged to browse on plants each day for 2 weeks. This technique, done multiple times over the course of a few years will stress out the plants and stunt their growth giving native vegetation a chance to recover and grow.

Visitors are welcomed to come and watch.



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By Dan Plutchak

Corrections and updates: news@kaukaunacommunitynews.com Dan Plutchak, born and raised in Kaukauna, is cofounder of Kaukauna Community News.