For many years, Maclellan Island, a serene 19-acre nature sanctuary nestled in the Tennessee River near Chattanooga, faced a relentless onslaught. Aggressive invaders like English ivy and Japanese honeysuckle created dense, impenetrable thickets, suffocating the island’s precious native trees and shrubs.
Jim Stewart, the executive director of the Chattanooga Audubon Society, which stewards the island, initially attempted a controlled burn last year. However, the resilient invasive plants merely smoldered, seemingly immune to the flames. It was the city’s fire chief, witnessing the stubborn resistance, who suggested an unconventional solution: ‘Jim, you really should get some goats out there,’ he advised. And so, Jim Stewart embarked on a unique mission.
Stewart contacted Christina Herndon, proprietor of Circle N Stables and a true ‘goat whisperer.’ Within two months, six hired goats, funded by generous donations, arrived on the island, accompanied by their vigilant Great Pyrenees guardian dog, Beo.
Visuals capture Jim Stewart, the dedicated executive director of the Chattanooga Audubon Society, and Christina Herndon lovingly holding Gilligan, a kid goat who, charmingly, was conceived on the island during this remarkable project.
A photograph shows Beo, affectionately known as Beowulf, the loyal Great Pyrenees who serves as the goats’ unwavering guardian.
Eco-grazing, or ‘goat-scaping,’ is a globally recognized method for controlling invasive plants in diverse locations like cemeteries, military bases, parks, and fire-prone forests. It offers a powerful, chemical-free alternative to mechanical removal. Goats are incredible eaters, capable of digesting notoriously tough plants like poison ivy and poison oak, and their agility allows them to navigate challenging terrain with ease. What makes the Maclellan Island goats truly exceptional, however, is their daily commute – they arrive at work by boat!
On the island, the herd and Beo reside autonomously, protected by a 600-foot solar-powered electric fence and monitored by security cameras. They have a small hut for shelter and water troughs. Typically, they clear an area of dense vegetation over approximately five weeks before their enclosure is relocated to tackle another overgrown section.
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Once an area is cleared, a dedicated team of volunteers and workers moves in to remove invasive roots, preventing regrowth. These volunteers also ensure the herd’s well-being, paddling to the island almost daily to provide supplemental corn (in addition to their endless buffet of invasive plants) and feed Beo. The herd even boasts a new member, Gilligan, affectionately named for being conceived right there on the island. Gilligan recently recovered from a hip injury on the mainland. ‘He got into a head-butting fight. He’s OK though,’ Ms. Herndon reassuringly shared. ‘They play rough.’
A heartwarming video shows Ms. Herndon and Mr. Stewart carefully returning Gilligan to his island home after his recovery from a hip injury.
An aerial view from the Tennessee River reveals the lush Maclellan Island nature sanctuary.
Overall, the goats have been a resounding success, according to Mr. Stewart. While English ivy isn’t their favorite snack, they’ve efficiently cleared about five acres of invasive plants, creating ample space for thousands of native plants to be sowed this autumn.
‘They’ve exceeded our hopes,’ Stewart enthused. ‘They achieve what humans and chemicals simply cannot. They are our advance troops.’ However, their journey hasn’t been without its share of delightful mishaps.
One notable incident occurred in September 2024 when Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters necessitated an emergency evacuation. The Chattanooga Fire Department sprang into action, ferrying the goats to safety. They spent the winter on the mainland at Audubon Acres, the Chattanooga Audubon Society’s 130-acre forest. One night, their temporary fence was breached, resulting in Beo sustaining a nasty ear wound. ‘We believe a coyote got in there, and Beo got injured in the process,’ Mr. Stewart explained. ‘If he doesn’t know you or he sees a coyote, he’s going to do his job.’
A video montage showcases the goats diligently clearing vast stretches of invasive plants from the island, demonstrating their impressive efficiency despite their mild disinterest in English ivy.
Then there’s the legendary tale of Gilligan’s father, MacLovin (whose name, incidentally, has a slightly different spelling from the famous movie character’s fake ID). To prevent the goats from pilfering Beo’s food – a feat Beo, ever loyal, actually allowed them to do – a ‘goat-proof’ dog-feeding area was designed with a small opening. Yet, security footage revealed MacLovin, ever the resourceful escape artist, shimmying through on his belly, much like an Army recruit on a covert mission.
Watch the hilarious video of MacLovin cleverly circumventing the ‘goat-proof’ dog-feeding area.
MacLovin’s talent for escape wasn’t limited to dog doors; he frequently led the herd over the nearly four-foot-high fence. During their mainland wintering in April, the entire herd was discovered half a mile away, lounging in a neighbor’s backyard gazebo. Emilee Null, the Chattanooga Audubon Society’s marketing director, recounted how they had to use animal crackers to coax the adventurous goats back. ‘Yes, MacLovin taught the other goats to get out,’ Ms. Herndon confirmed. This final escape resulted in MacLovin’s relocation to another facility in Tennessee.
Despite MacLovin’s antics, the goats achieved remarkable success, clearing almost ten acres of invasive privet from Audubon Acres, which allowed its campsite to reopen after years. The remaining herd returned to Maclellan Island in June and are now a crucial component of the Chattanooga Audubon Society’s ongoing forest management strategy. They will likely be deployed repeatedly to manage recurring invasive growth, with their services and upkeep costing approximately $2,000 per month. Future plans for the island include launching eco-tours and planting diverse native nut- and fruit-bearing trees and bushes to enrich the food supply for local mammals and birds. Stewart firmly believes none of these ambitious goals would be achievable without the tireless efforts of his goat team.
Still eager to tackle the stubborn English ivy, Mr. Stewart is now considering introducing sheep to the island, following discussions with experts.
More footage of the dedicated eco-grazers at work on their island sanctuary.
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