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Boston Using Goats To Clear Poison Ivy

BOSTON (CBS) – Boston has found a unique solution for making new green space – goats.

On Wednesday, the Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation released four goats in a Hyde Park lot the organization had been trying to clear as new greenspace for a while.

"This site, as I said, we have not been able to tackle. Because there is so much poison ivy, it is unsafe for the youths. So, we came up with the idea of goats. They are being used elsewhere. We thought it would be an eco-friendly, affordable solution to the problem," said Pat Alvarez of the Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation.

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Goats used in Hyde Park to clear poison ivy in 2014. (Photo by Karen Twomey-WBZ NewsRadio 1030)

Poison ivy, Alvarez said, does not impact goats.

"They love it. It's like candy," Alvarez said.

Boston's Interim Parks & Recreation Commissioner Chris Cook said it should take around two months for the goats to clear the poison ivy and other invasive species.

"Hopefully, what we are going to be left with is a usable green space," he said.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports

Boston Using Goats To Clear Poison Ivy

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