Operation Pollination and Pukaite Woods Goat Projects

Operation Pollination recognizes the importance of pollinator habitat both restored and maintained on public and private lands.  Through collaboration and outreach, an interconnected mosaic of pollinator habitat interspersed between public and private land will be developed to stabilize and/or increase populations of pollinator species throughout your project area.

The popular goats that first helped eradicate weeds in Mequon’s Rotary Park Pukaite Woods last have officially made their return this season, with help from the Mequon-Thiensville Sunrise Rotary Club.

Last year, 38 goats grazed the woods eating buckthorn and other invasive brushy species for about a month in June and another two weeks in August. It’s estimated they weakened the plants considerably, reducing new growth this year, though there is still work to be done.

The 18-acre woods is located behind the band-shell in Rotary Park. The goats work in pens built around a 1-acre perimeter at a time. With the help of Boy Scouts, Rotarians and people in the neighborhood, the pens are moved every day or so over the time that the animals are there.