Town gets goats for park’s grass, weeds

Officials in Merrick, N.Y., said they are employing a team of five Nigerian dwarf goats to munch weeds and overgrowth at a 50-acre nature preserve.

The officials said the goats, named Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Happy and Doc, were purchased for $1,200 and will be at work by the fall eating grass and weeds at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve, Newsday reported Tuesday.

We’ll let them eat to their hearts’ content, said Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray. Basically, they’re going to be our natural lawn mowers.

Murray said officials are making careful plans to keep the goats tethered and to prevent children from trying to pet them.

There’s an overabundance of caution at this point, Murray said. They’re young, they’re unpredictable and it’s not really their purpose.

The supervisor said she and other officials are hoping the goats might add to their numbers.

We figure with one boy and four girls, nature might take its course, Murray said.