Goats Eat Their Way Through Atlanta’s Ivy

Alison Guillory / WABE

Michael Swanson began Get Your Goat Rentals as a hobby after using his dairy goats to help clear his neighbor’s yard. The goats attracted a lot of interest, and eventually his hobby formed the basis of his company.

Now, in its seventh year, the company has become a year-round operation with 150 goats that work at sites throughout the Metro Atlanta region.

According to Swanson, the goats are an environmentally sound alternative for clearing land of Atlanta’s sprawling privet, ivy and kudzu. Unlike heavy machinery or pesticides, goats are a gentle way to remove the heavy greenery.