ChicagoVideoO'Hare International Airport

O'Hare Goats: City Awards Contract For Weed-Control Pilot Program At Chicago Airport

It's Official: Grazing Goats Coming Soon To O'Hare
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funny goat puts out its tongue

Yes, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is about to hire some 25 goats and possibly some sheep. No, the airport is not installing a petting zoo.

The city's Department of Aviation on Wednesday announced that it has awarded a two-year contract -- worth $100,000 -- to Chicago-based Central Commissary Holdings, LLC, to turn loose dozens of grazing goats on areas of the airport's grounds separately by security fencing from the airfield, NBC Chicago reports.

The firm, which also operates Lincoln Park restaurant Butcher & The Burger, currently keeps the goats at a farm in suburban Barrington Hills, according to the Chicago Tribune, but will relocate the herd to O'Hare later this spring once adequate foliage is present.

Central Commissary Holdings was one of many firms that engaged in a bid war in response to the airport's call for an earth-friendly weed control force to staff the pilot program. The goats will control vegetation in hard-to-mow areas of the airport's grounds and are expected to clear about 250 square feet of vegetation daily, CBS Chicago reports.

Also coming with the animals will be -- what else? -- a shepherd responsible for supervising them.

Goats have also been used for vegetation control at golf courses and other airports such as San Francisco International.

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Before You Go

Goats in trees
These goats are in a tree.(01 of08)
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This photo taken on August 26, 2012, shows goats climbing up an Argan tree to its fruit, near Essaouira. AFP PHOTO \FADEL SENNA (Photo credit should read FADEL SENNA/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
Some more goats, in a tree.(02 of08)
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This photo taken on August 26, 2012, shows goats climbing up an Argan tree to its fruit, near Essaouira. AFP PHOTO \FADEL SENNA (Photo credit should read FADEL SENNA/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
So happy to be in a tree!(03 of08)
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This photo taken on August 26, 2012, shows goats climbing up an Argan tree to its fruit, near Essaouira. AFP PHOTO \FADEL SENNA (Photo credit should read FADEL SENNA/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
Be careful, goats!(04 of08)
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This photo taken on August 26, 2012, shows goats climbing up an Argan tree to its fruit, near Essaouira. AFP PHOTO \FADEL SENNA (Photo credit should read FADEL SENNA/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
Hello up there!(05 of08)
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TAROUDANT, MOROCCO: Goats climb an Argan tree 25 May 2006 in search of the tree's bitter fruits, near Taroudant. The Argan (Argania spinosa) is endemic to the semi-desert region of south-western Morocco. The species grows to a hight of 8 to 10 metres and lives up to 200 years. Arganeraie forests span some 800,000 hectares and are designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere reserve. AFP PHOTO / ABDELHAK SENNA (Photo credit should read ABDELHAK SENNA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Watch out for planes!(06 of08)
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TAROUDANT, MOROCCO: Goats climb an Argan tree 25 May 2006 in search of the tree's bitter fruits, near Taroudant. The Argan (Argania spinosa) is endemic to the semi-desert region of south-western Morocco. The species grows to a hight of 8 to 10 metres and lives up to 200 years. Arganeraie forests span some 800,000 hectares and are designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere reserve. AFP PHOTO / ABDELHAK SENNA (Photo credit should read ABDELHAK SENNA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
:-P right back at you, goat! (07 of08)
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TAROUDANT, MOROCCO: Goats climb an Argan tree 25 May 2006 in search of the tree's bitter fruits, near Taroudant. The Argan (Argania spinosa) is endemic to the semi-desert region of south-western Morocco. The species grows to a hight of 8 to 10 metres and lives up to 200 years. Arganeraie forests span some 800,000 hectares and are designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere reserve. AFP PHOTO / ABDELHAK SENNA (Photo credit should read ABDELHAK SENNA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Go home goats, you're drunk!(08 of08)
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TAROUDANT, MOROCCO: Goats climb an Argan tree 25 May 2006 in search of the tree's bitter fruits, near Taroudant. The Argan (Argania spinosa) is endemic to the semi-desert region of south-western Morocco. The species grows to a hight of 8 to 10 metres and lives up to 200 years. Arganeraie forests span some 800,000 hectares and are designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere reserve. AFP PHOTO / ABDELHAK SENNA (Photo credit should read ABDELHAK SENNA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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