Why Madison is Using Goats to Clean Up Parks š
Next time youāre at Olin Turville Park, say hello to new park staffers Donna, Nancy, Emma, Janelle, Midnight and Dorito. Donāt be mad if they donāt talk back, though. Theyāre goats.Ā
These goats are on assignment cleaning up brush and invasive species in many Madison parks. They belong to Greg Haak and Brooke Hushagen of HaakHagen Goat Grazing, who set the herd up inside a portable electric fence and let them graze. Goats are natural browsers, and the idea is that theyāll naturally eat their way through the park, cleaning up unwanted vegetation and reducing the need for herbicides.Ā
Producer Molly Stentz tracked down the goat wranglers to learn how itās working.
Mentioned in the episode:Ā
š Want to volunteer as a goat checker?
š¢ The Dane County Fair is this weekend
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. Weāre also on Twitter and Instagram!Ā
Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.Ā
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Latest Episodes
Whatās New in Madisonās Restaurant Scene This Spring
From Ba Lao to Friends Applaud, there are so many new restaurants in the Madison area to check out this spring. In her recent Cap Times...
2026 Wisconsin Spring Election Results
Last nightās election results are in! More than 50% of registered voters in Dane County turned out to the polls, and it was a good night...
Itās Time to Vote! Plus, Get Psyched for Summer Sports, and RIP Tone Madison
Happy Election Day, Madison! Weāre wrapping up our election primers today with a breakdown of the contested Madison City Council races. P...
Veterans Memorial Coliseum Is Ready for an Encore
Back in the 1990s, it was normal, if not expected, that big-name bands would stop in Madison. From Metallica to Bon Jovi to Reba McEntire...
'Your City Could Be Better': Denverās Bet on a Womenās Soccer Stadium ā Presented By City Cast Madison
If you are a fan of the Madison's professional women's volleyball team LOVB, you already know how incredible women's sports are! While mo...
Pedestrian Safety, Dane County Judge Race, and Hoofers Expansion
After nearly 30 years, the City of Madison is revising its pedestrian plan to make Madison safer and more walkable. Plus, UWās largest st...
Your Guide to April 2026 in Madison
Happy April, Madison! Itās a new month, which means the City Cast Madison team is here to share our tips on how to make the most of it. T...
Meet the Candidates: Judge Chris Taylor For Wisconsin Supreme Court
Wisconsinās spring election is less than a week away ā and thatās no April Fools joke! On April 7, voters across the state will cast thei...
Meet the Candidates: Judge Maria Lazar For Wisconsin Supreme Court
Weāre exactly one week away from Wisconsinās spring election. On April 7, voters across the state will vote on an array of candidates, ru...
How Loud Are the F-35 Jets, Really?
Here at City Cast Madison, weāve lost count of how many times weāve had to pause our podcast recordings to let a F-35 fighter jet fly by....