Don't call them scapegoats. Instead, call them landscape goats. No kidding.

While you may not hear Alpine horns or see public officials in Lederhosen, don't be surprised if you see goats on South Mountain at the Salisbury Township Municipal Building.

Following a recommendation from the Salisbury Township Environmental Advisory Council, the township Board of Commissioners by consensus gave the go-ahead May 28 to utilize goats to mitigate weed and invasive plants at the township building detention pond at 2900 South Pike Ave.

Cleanup and restoration of the fenced-in pond is funded by a $15,106 grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Stewardship- Watershed Protection.

The three goats, named Wynken, Blynken and Nod, obtained from Horvath Farms, Lower Saucon Township, were to have arrived June 1 on a trial basis. Because of inclement weather, their arrival was postponed until 9 a.m. June 3.

Clearing the detention pond of Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) and poison ivy will be a boon to township public works employees and volunteers. Scientists say goats are better than herbicides, which can contribute to harmful runoff.

"The traditional method of removing Japanese knot-weed utilizes herbicides, which could be toxic in the environment," Salisbury Township Director of Planning and Zoning Cynthia Sopka said.