HOT SPRINGS — The National Park Service is turning to goats to help rid Hot Springs National Park of invasive plants that are growing in areas where herbicides can't be used.
Beginning Tuesday, Hot Springs National Park will employ a herd of goats to manage invasive plant services for five weeks.
Shelley Todd, the park's natural resource program manager, said the goats will eat the plants in a 3-acre field that was planted with pine trees about 10 years ago. Todd said the pine trees haven't thrived because of overcrowding and shading by invasive plants, such as privet, chinaberry, periwinkle and bamboo.
After the trial period, park officials will conduct an analysis to determine whether the goat project should be part of future invasive species management in the park.