FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — For the humans, some of the foliage growing among the trees in Loomis Park are invasive species that shouldn’t be there.

For the herd of goats grazing there, that foliage is lunch, dinner, breakfast and snacks.

The Hungry Herd, owned by Doug Bartels, of Lytton, made its first appearance at the park along the Des Moines River last year.

This year, there are 33 goats including nine kids. Last year’s herd was 68 goats including 16 kids.

Lori Branderhorst, Fort Dodge’s director of parks, recreation and forestry, said the goats are a great way to get an area cleared out economically and environmentally.

“It’s $2.75 per head per day,” she said. “It’s a pretty economical way to get work done. It’s pretty much a non-budget project.”

The first year’s goat mowing was paid for by the Fort Dodge Parks Foundation. This year’s project is a partnership with the foundation and the city of Fort Dodge.

Clearing areas of forest simply isn’t a city budget item, Branderhorst told The Messenger.

“The city has a lot of urban forest,” she said. “It’s not in the city budget to open up areas and clear invasive species. It’s never been. This was a good thing the Parks Foundation started.”

It would be expensive to pay city crews to go in and clear the area.