THEY’RE BAAACK! Sheep landscaping squad returns to chomp invasive plant species on Governors Island

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — They’re baaack and better than ever.

The Governors Island sheep landscaping squad has returned from their farm upstate, and the five herbivores are back at their post in Hammock Grove, ready to eat down invasive plant species.

“Every year we are excited to welcome our sheep friends to their summer home on Governors Island, not only because they are amazing creatures and beloved by our visitors but also because they put in the hard work that allows our horticulture team to focus on more important tasks than mowing lawns and pulling weeds,” said Clare Newman, president and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island.

Evening, Chad, Philip Aries, Bowie and Jupiter regularly reside at Friends of Tivoli Lake Preserve in Albany, but since 2021 have been coming down for summer in the city. These sheep eat invasive plant species like mugwort, phragmites and bindweed, curbing their competitive nature and the creation of a monoculture on Governors Island.

“We want Hammock Grove on Governors Island to become like a native New York forest,” Governors Island senior gardener Leo Frampton told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880. “And sheep love to eat these non-forest plants.”

Since the program began, the sheep have eaten about 14.5 acres worth of invasive plant species, which the Trust for Governors Island said has saved thousands of hours of work for the island’s horticulture team.

Sheep culinary tastes do not include tree bark, which makes them uniquely suited for this line of work. The four-legged friends eat around young trees and focus on the island's problem plants, where animals like goats would eat anything they come across.

“It has been incredible to witness how, over the past four years, the sheep have been able to improve the plant diversity in Hammock Grove and help create a healthier habitat for all visitors to Governors Island,” said Kim Tateo, executive director and farm manager of Friends of Tivoli Lake Preserve and Farm.

Public engagement events including sheep herding, shepherd Q&As and hands-on wool activates will be held on the island this summer. Dates will be announced at the Governors Island website, here .

“The power, the kind of charisma and charm of animals, it can, in a funny way, kind of build community,” Frampton said. “It gives a lot of personality to this landscaping work that has to be done with or without a sheep.”

“Baaaaaaa, baaaaaa, baaaaaa,” they sheep squad bleated in a joint statement regarding their return. “Baaaaa, baaaaaa!”