What We Eat
Plants Our Goats Eat
Below are some of the primary plant species our goats consume. While these plants are readily eaten, our goats will browse a wide range of vegetation. This may occasionally include native or otherwise valuable plants; therefore, we carefully select grazing sites to minimize unintended impact and support responsible environmental stewardship.
Click, tap, or hover over each image to learn more about these plants.
Knotweed are perennial herbal plants that are commonly seen in sunny and moist areas, such as riverbanks, vacant lots, and roadsides. It grows rhizomatically and comes from volcanic regions, which explains its ability to grow in post-industrial soils and return so vigorously, even after removal efforts. Knotweed grows extremely fast beginning in early spring and reaches heights from 3-12 feet. It is one of the most difficult invasive plants to manage due to its ability to etablish and reestablish itself so easily.
There are several different species of invasive shrubs known as bush honeysuckle. The two most common in our area are Amur honeysuckle and Morrow’s honeysuckle. Both are large deciduous shrubs that can grow quite tall. The leaves are oppositely arranged on the stem and the fragrant white and yellow flowers are produced in spring or early summer. The berries mature in the fall and are bright red to black and semi-translucent. Birds regulary eat the fruit and disperse the seeds.
Multiflora rose is designated as a noxious weed. It forms dense thickets in many types of environments from forests to roadsides and prairies. It is thorny, and produces small white flowers in spring and red berries in summer and fall. It will grow up to fifteen feet high and in some cases up trees.
Wineberry is a shrub with sharp spines and red hairs that produces a fruit that looks like a raspberry. It will grow quickly in fields, along roadsides and near forests, forming a dense thicket. Wineberry can also host viruses that are harmful to other berry plants.
Porcelain berry is a woody vine that grows fast and to great heights, allowing it to cover trees and to shade out native plants. It produces a blue to purple berry in late summer and through fall. Birds and other animals spread the plant by eating its fruits.
Oriental bittersweet vine grows in variety of environments, but is commonly found in disturbed or abandoned sites and on forest edges where it suppresses native plants. It spreads rapidly as animals consume the fruit and distribute the seeds, though all parts of the plant are poisonous to humans. It also makes the soil more alkaline as it grows, which is another way it impacts many native plant species.
Vining Honeysuckle is commonly found in many areas, including forests, wetlands and roadsides. The vines are very dense and form canopies that block sun for other native plant live. Similar to bush honeysuckle, birds eat its fruit and spread it to other areas.
Stiltgrass is native to Japan and was transported to America by accident through a shipping container. Stiltgrass reproduces easily because each plant produces from 100 to 1000 seeds, which can remain viable more than 5 years. Similar to other invasive plants, it grows densely over native plants, blocking the light and nutrients they need to survive.
Border privet is a semi-evergreen shrub that is often found in wooded areas. It can form dense thickets, which then block sunlight and limit water for other native plants and flowers.
Poison Ivy is a native vine found throughout North America. It is both versatile and resilient: it can grow as a vine up to 150 feet in height or as a woody shrub, and it can thrive in many conditions from sunny to shaded and wet to dry. It produces a toxic oil that causes serious skin irritation in most people. Poison Ivy is not toxic to goats, and they will eat it without irritation. It's also a great native food source for birds!
Wild grape is vine native to Pennsylvania with different varieties that are adaptable to different environments. The grapes are a good food source for birds and small mammals; however, the vines can be damaging to trees. The vine has the ability to grow up the tree and also extend across trees, forming a canopy. When this happens, less sunlight reaches the tree, slowing its growth and allowing it to become damaged, sometimes to the point of death.
There are two types of invasive burdock in our region, greater and lesser. As the names suggest, greater burdock can grow up to 6 feet tall, and lesser burdock, well, lesser so. These incredible, edible, and biennial invasive plants have many medicinal qualities and are regularly used in many Asian cuisines.
HIGHLY TOXIC
What We CANNOT Eat
Below are a few common and highly poisonous plants found in our region.
All parts of this plant are toxic, even though it's a member of the carrot family with a familiar look-a-like, Queen Anne's Lace or "Wild Carrot". Poision hemlock is identified by it's mostly hollow and purple spotted stems. It can grow anywhere from 1-10 feet and its flowers are white, compound, umbrella clusters. For many people, even touching this plant or its secretions can cause a negative reaction.
Pictured here is Common Milkweed, though all milkweeds are toxic to goats (with many parts being poisonous to humans as well). Some other varieties found in our area are Swamp, Purple, and Butterflyweed. Many of them produce a milky substance that is toxic to most birds and animals, however monarch butterflies use these as hosts plants for their eggs. Once hatched, the caterpillars safely eat the leaves and become toxic to predators.
These small to medium evergreen trees grow between 30-90 feet. Their leaves are flat, dark green, and arranged spirally on the stem. Most parts of this plant are toxic to humans, as well as most other mammals.
Three Ways to Support Allegheny GoatScape
Sponsor
We are seeking generous supporters to sponsor each of our animals individually. These donations support the well-being of each of our animals year-round!
Donate
Please consider donating to Allegheny GoatScape! Donations are greatly appreciated and help with daily care, ecological restoration, and the needs of our goats and mini donkeys.
Volunteer
Individual, community, and group volunteers value the impact their time and labor has on Pittsburgh and Western PA’s ecological health. They also love spending time with our herds!
