BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Happy and Hungry Goats at the Houston Arboretum

By Jenna Mazzoccoli, Contributing writer | October 6, 2020

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The goats came to the Arboretum from Rent-A-Ruminant Texas, an eco-friendly vegetation management solution where goats do the “mowing.” (Photo: Jenna Mazzoccoli)
West U residents and long-time friends Charis Smith and Carolyn Williams came to see the goats at the Houston Arboretum because they have been looking for outdoor activities that are safe and socially distanced. (Photo: Jenna Mazzoccoli)
Goats can go places where humans and heavy machinery cannot. (Photo courtesy of Rent-A-Ruminant Texas)
Goats can eat overgrowth, green briars, poison ivy, ragweed and many other unwanted or undesirable plant species. These goats will leave Houston well-fed. (Photo: Jenna Mazzoccoli)
More than 100 goats are pastured at the Houston Arboretum around the North and South Woodway ponds through Oct. 10. (Photo: Jenna Mazzoccoli)
Not only are goats cute, but they are an eco-friendly option for mowing the lawn. (Photo courtesy of Rent-A-Ruminant Texas)

This week, the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center has welcomed more than 100 goats. Yes, that’s right – goats! While they pasture on the North and South Woodway ponds, they have one very important and specific task - to mow the lawn.

The goats will assist in mowing the slopes that are overgrown with vegetation by grazing on the land. Goats can easily scramble over rocky terrain and into nooks and crannies, unlike commercial lawn mowers. Goats are a more “eco-friendly solution” because they don’t spew pollution or guzzle gas, and they even leave fertilizer in their wake. The goats will nibble on grass, weeds and bramble for a week and leave with a full tummy. Hiring goats to mow the lawn may be a longer process but it’s definitely a whole lot cuter to watch!

The goats will be at the Arboretum through Oct. 10 and the public is welcome to stop by and say hello (from behind a gate) during daily hours. Even though the goats are adorable, do not try to pet them - they have a job to do and tend to get ornery when distracted from their duty.

Daily hours at the Houston Arboretum (4501 Woodway Dr, Houston, TX 77024) are from 7 a.m. to dusk. Admission to the Nature Center, trails and Woodway ponds is free. Parking is available at both the 610 Entrance and the Woodway Entrance. Find more information about visiting the Arboretum here.

The goats came to the Arboretum from Rent-A-Ruminant Texas, an eco-friendly vegetation management solution where goats do the “mowing.” (Photo: Jenna Mazzoccoli)

West U residents and long-time friends Charis Smith and Carolyn Williams came to see the goats at the Houston Arboretum because they have been looking for outdoor activities that are safe and socially distanced. (Photo: Jenna Mazzoccoli)

Goats can go places where humans and heavy machinery cannot. (Photo courtesy of Rent-A-Ruminant Texas)

Goats can eat overgrowth, green briars, poison ivy, ragweed and many other unwanted or undesirable plant species. These goats will leave Houston well-fed. (Photo: Jenna Mazzoccoli)