Goats Hired to Clear Poison Oak in Solvang

For many Poison Oak causes severe reactions like blistering – it is toxic to most people. It can effect you for 25 hours and blisters can stay for around one week.

The city of Solvang wants to get rid of several acres of Poison Oak that people have been complaining about at Hans Christian Anderson Park.

It hired Buellton based “Brush Goats 4 Hire.” More than 100 goats will roam in a fenced area of the park to eat the Poison Oak. Other ways to get rid of it is burning it but experts say those fumes are toxic and can effect your lungs.

Experts with the company say the ivy has almost no effect on goats unless they are young and the worst that can happen is blistering around the mouth.

They do not use young goats for this project. The company also gets hired by ranchers, farmers and other local cities.

The goats graze on poison oak, clear weeds and more.