Bedford Hills, NY—This spring, a herd of hardworking goats will arrive at Tom Burke Preserve to help Westchester Land Trust (WLT) tackle invasive plants and restore healthier habitat for pollinators and native wildlife.

Partnering with Fat and Sassy Goats, WLT is using ecologically prescribed goat grazing as part of a broader effort to improve biodiversity and strengthen pollinator habitat at the preserve. The goats will eat a variety of invasive plants present at the preserve, including multiflora rose, barberry, and buckthorn. The initiative is supported by a two-year grant totaling $200,000 from the Office of the New York State Attorney General through the New York Pollinator Conservation Fund, in partnership with The New York Community Trust.

Located in the heart of Bedford, Tom Burke Preserve is a small but ecologically significant preserve featuring meadow, shrubland, and forested wetland habitats that support a wide variety of birds, insects, and native plants. Over time, however, aggressive invasive species have begun to crowd out native vegetation and reduce habitat quality for pollinators and wildlife.

Rather than relying solely on mechanical or chemical methods, WLT is turning to goats as a natural, low-impact solution.

“Goat grazing is an innovative and environmentally friendly way to manage invasive plants while helping restore balance to the ecosystem,” said Ben Kleist, WLT’s Preserve Manager. “By clearing dense invasive growth, the goats create space and sunlight for native plants and pollinator habitat to recover and thrive. Plus, the goats are very cute.”

Fat and Sassy Goats specializes in targeted grazing for ecological restoration projects across the region. Their herd is carefully managed to consume invasive vegetation such as multiflora rose, mugwort, bittersweet, and other fast-growing species that can quickly overwhelm native ecosystems.

The goat grazing project is part of WLT’s broader forest health and pollinator habitat initiatives, which includes meadow and forest restoration, native plantings, invasive species management, and other stewardship projects designed to support bees, butterflies, birds, and other essential pollinators across the region.

To help the community engage with the project firsthand, WLT will host two public events at Tom Burke Preserve this May:

• Fat and Sassy Goats: Clearing the Way for Pollinators on May 16, a guided walk where participants can meet the goats and learn about invasive plant management and pollinator conservation.
• Invasive Removal at Tom Burke Preserve on May 23, a hands-on volunteer stewardship event focused on invasive plant removal and habitat restoration.

“These projects are about more than removing invasive plants,” said Janelle Robbins, WLT’s Vice President of Conservation. “They’re about restoring ecological health, supporting pollinators, and helping people connect more deeply with the land and the stewardship work happening in their communities.”

For more information about the events or to register, visit westchesterlandtrust.org/events.

We acknowledge that our region is within the traditional territories of the Lenape people and that their culture and traditions live on today.