Ameren Illinois is experimenting with an environmental-friendly way to remove invasive vegetation in difficult-to-reach areas across its service territory. Dave Schenck with Ameren says the company is piloting the use of 50 goats along a steep and rocky plot of land in Hillview, Illinois.

Tree trimmers with chainsaws could be called in to clear the area but much of the terrain is in a ravine, making walking conditions difficult at times. Schenck says the vegetation management is done for reliability as well as safety.

The goats can remove approximately an acre's worth of vegetation in a week.