Montana city deploys nearly 200 goats to eat weeds that threaten native plants

(AP) Bringing goats to Virginia City was one of Allyson Adams' first acts as the new mayor of this old gold mining town. Nearly 200 of the animals are on Boot Hill, eating knapweed.

"We need more goats," Adams, who became mayor this spring, recently told some people at Virginia City's Metropolitan Market. "Next year, we'll probably need 1,000."

Goats were brought from Conrad to eat weeds that threaten Virginia City's native plants. Adams sees the animals as an alternative to spraying chemicals, but said chemical use along some roadways here will continue.

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