Goats Clear Congressional Cemetery Land

The goats are expected to clear the area in seven days. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

Congressional Cemetery Goats A goat grazes in the brush in a fenced off area at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013. More than 100 goats will be taking over Washington's Historic Congressional Cemetery to help clean up brush in an area away from the graves. The goats will graze 24 hours a day for six days to eliminate vines, poison ivy and weeds, while also "fertilizing the ground." (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Congressional Cemetery Goats Goats are released from a trailer at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013. More than 100 goats will be taking over Washington's Historic Congressional Cemetery to help clean up brush in an area away from the graves. The goats will graze 24 hours a day for six days to eliminate vines, poison ivy and weeds, while also "fertilizing the ground." (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

APTOPIX Congressional Cemetery Goats A photograph of goats on a lawn sign directs reporters to where goats will be released at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013. More than 100 goats will be taking over Washington's Historic Congressional Cemetery to help clean up brush in an area away from the graves. The goats will graze 24 hours a day for six days to eliminate vines, poison ivy and weeds, while also "fertilizing the ground." (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Congressional Cemetery sits near rough terrain next to the Anacostia River. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

Five dozen goats will munch on vegetation for the next seven days. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

Brian Knox with Eco-Goats delivered 60 goats to Congressional Cemetery Wednesday. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

The goats eat honeysuckle, English ivy, porcelain berry, poison ivy and pretty much everything. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

In seven days, Brian Knox expects his goats will have cleared an acre and a half that's currently obstructing cemetery visitors' view of the river. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

The fence has been electrified while the goats do their work so as to prevent runaways. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

Congressional Cemetery officials had been looking for a green solution to the heavily wooded area. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

At first nervous among the crowd of onlookers and journalists, the goats got down to business at Congressional Cemetery. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

Congressional Cemetery Goats Reporters photograph goats as they are released from a trailer at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013. More than 100 goats will be taking over Washington's Historic Congressional Cemetery to help clean up brush in an area away from the graves. The goats will graze 24 hours a day for six days to eliminate vines, poison ivy and weeds, while also "fertilizing the ground." (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

It's rough terrain near the Anacostia River full of downed logs, ivy and ditches, so the Congressional Cemetery rolled in five dozen goats to clear it. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

The land south of the cemetery's east end has grown over.(WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

Bush honeysuckle, English ivy, porcelain berry, poison ivy and anything else. The goats will eat it. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

It's rough terrain near the Anacostia River full of downed logs, ivy and ditches, so the Congressional Cemetery rolled in five dozen goats to clear it. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

The goats were nervous at the site of a crowd, but then they got down to business at Congressional Cemetery. (WFED/Shefali Kapadia)

WFED/Shefali Kapadia

After the goats had trimmed the greens. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Before the goats had feasted. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Before and after shot. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

All the goats hanging together. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Goats before the chowdown. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Journalists, families and curious members of the community gathered near the fence to try and get a glimpse of the hungry goats at Congressional Cemetery on August 7, 2013. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Goats clear Congressional Cemetery land Nubian goats from upstate New York chomp on weeds Wednesday, July 24, 2013, in Sandy Hook, N.J. The 11 goats are the first line of defense to save New Jersey's historic Fort Hancock from a poison ivy invasion. The Sandy Hook Foundation is paying Larry Cihanek of Rhinebeck, N.Y., about $12,000 to use about two dozen goats to clear the site to make it more accessible to the public. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

AP Photo/Mel Evans

Poison Ivy Patrol Eleven Nubian goats from upstate New York walk together Wednesday, July 24, 2013, in Sandy Hook, N.J. The goats are the first line of defense to save New Jersey's historic Fort Hancock from a poison ivy invasion. The plants have overtaken the Sandy Hook mortar battery that defended New York Harbor during World War II. The Sandy Hook Foundation is paying Larry Cihanek of Rhinebeck, N.Y., about $12,000 to use about two dozen goats to clear the site to make it more accessible to the public. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

AP Photo/Mel Evans

A goat surveys the task in front of him shortly after being released into a unkempt acre and a half of land south of Congressional Cemetery Wednesday. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

The east end of Congressional Cemetery is well manicured, but just south of here the brush is difficult to walk through. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

A pair of goats tackles an especially tasty branch inside Congressional Cemetery. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

The goats are eating everything from poison ivy to honeysuckle inside this patch of unkempt land near the Anacostia River. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

(海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

Eco-Goats and Congressional Cemetery agreed to electrify the fence to keep the goats inside and protect them from would-be goat thieves. The fence was not electrified while the public was on hand to see the goats released into the fenced-off land Wednesday.(海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

A journalist snaps a photo of a goat who has found something particularly tasty near the fence. The fence was not electrified while the public was on hand to see the goats released into the fenced-off land. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Colette Josar, 2, looks to her mother in reaction to the nearby goat moving towards her. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

''Every once in a while, we come across vegetation that they haven't had before. They'll usually ignore it for a day or two. If someone tries it and they don't die, then everybody jumps on it,'' says Brian Knox with Eco-Goats. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Poison Ivy Patrol Nubian goats from upstate New York chomp on weeds Wednesday, July 24, 2013, in Sandy Hook, N.J. The 11 goats are the first line of defense to save New Jersey's historic Fort Hancock from a poison ivy invasion. The Sandy Hook Foundation is paying Larry Cihanek of Rhinebeck, N.Y., about $12,000 to use about two dozen goats to clear the site to make it more accessible to the public. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

AP Photo/Mel Evans

These goats will eat just about anything. ''Oh, they love poison ivy. I'm not sure about these morning glories. They've never seen them,'' says Brian Knox of Eco-Goats. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

(海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

Two goats tag team a branch inside Congressional Cemetery's land to the south of the cemetary's east end. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Colette Josar, 2, is enamored with the Eco-Goats brought in to clear land south of the cemetery Wednesday. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Human crews dug the space for the fence on Congressional Cemetery land, but the goats will do the hard work, clearing more than an acre of thick brush, weeds and ivy. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Ethan and Charlie have a great view of three of the goats dropped off Wednesday at Congressional Cemetery. (海角社区app/Megan Cloherty)

海角社区app/Megan Cloherty

Poison Ivy Patrol A Nubian goat from upstate New York chomps on weeds Wednesday, July 24, 2013, in Sandy Hook, N.J. The 11 goats are the first line of defense to save New Jersey's historic Fort Hancock from a poison ivy invasion. The Sandy Hook Foundation is paying Larry Cihanek of Rhinebeck, N.Y., about $12,000 to use about two dozen goats to clear the site to make it more accessible to the public. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

AP Photo/Mel Evans

Larry Cihanek As owner Larry Cihanek stands nearby, some Nubian goats from upstate New York rest in a shade Wednesday, July 24, 2013, in Sandy Hook, N.J. The 11 goats are the first line of defense to save New Jersey's historic Fort Hancock from a poison ivy invasion. The plants have overtaken the Sandy Hook mortar battery that defended New York Harbor during World War II. The Sandy Hook Foundation is paying Cihanek of Rhinebeck, N.Y., about $12,000 to use about two dozen goats to clear the site to make it more accessible to the public. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

AP Photo/Mel Evans

Poison Ivy Patrol A Nubian goat from upstate New York chomps on weeds Wednesday, July 24, 2013, in Sandy Hook, N.J. The 11 goats are the first line of defense to save New Jersey's historic Fort Hancock from a poison ivy invasion. The plants have overtaken the Sandy Hook mortar battery that defended New York Harbor during World War II. The Sandy Hook Foundation is paying Larry Cihanek of Rhinebeck, N.Y., about $12,000 to use about two dozen goats to clear the site to make it more accessible to the public. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

AP Photo/Mel Evans

Congressional Cemetery Goats Children watch as goats graze in a fenced-off area at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013. More than 100 goats will be taking over Washington's Historic Congressional Cemetery to help clean up brush in an area away from the graves. The goats will graze 24 hours a day for six days to eliminate vines, poison ivy and weeds, while also "fertilizing the ground." (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak