Upstate Medical University hires goats for campus landscaping

Upstate Medical University in Syracuse has introduced nearly 100 goats to manage landscaping across its Downtown and Community campuses. The animals are tasked with consuming brush, goldenrod, and other vegetation on steep slopes that are difficult or unsafe for traditional lawnmowers and heavy machinery to access.

According to Upstate Sustainability Chief Enderli Frederiksen, the initiative is part of an effort to implement more environmentally responsible practices. Using goats for grazing reduces the reliance on chemical herbicides and heavy machinery while naturally returning nutrients to the soil.