Grazing goats to clean Historic Congressional Cemetery on Capitol Hill over next 6 days in DC

August 7, 2013 at 4:55PM

WASHINGTON — More than 100 goats are taking over Washington's Historic Congressional Cemetery to help clean up the landmark.

The cemetery welcomed the grazing herd Wednesday. The goats will graze 24 hours a day for six days to eliminate vines, poison ivy and weeds, while also "fertilizing the ground."

The livestock will be penned outside of the burial areas. The cemetery is open from dawn to dusk.

The cemetery says the use of goats will eliminate the need for harmful herbicides and will keep invasive species from killing large trees.

The Congressional Cemetery was founded in the early 1800s and covers 35 acres on Capitol Hill. Thousands of people are buried at the cemetery, including former senators and House members.

about the writer

about the writer

More from No Section

See More
FILE -- A rent deposit slot at an apartment complex in Tucker, Ga., on July 21, 2020. As an eviction crisis has seemed increasingly likely this summer, everyone in the housing market has made the same plea to Washington: Send money — lots of it — that would keep renters in their homes and landlords afloat. (Melissa Golden/The New York Times) ORG XMIT: XNYT58
Melissa Golden/The New York Times

It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.