Llamas, goats cut grass at Chicago airport

Chicago’s bustling O’Hare airport has hired a new crew to keep the grass cut: a herd of goats, sheep, donkeys and llamas. Yes, llamas. The llamas help protect the sheep and miniature goats from coyotes that roam the wooded areas near one of the world’s busiest airports. The donkeys are also big and aggressive enough to keep predators away. And the entire chew crew works to keep the grounds clear of critters that can interfere — or even endanger — airport operations. Chicago used to rely on herbicides and motorized lawnmowers to maintain the nearly 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) of land surrounding O’Hare. Aside from giving the landscaping crew a break, relying on ruminants also potentially reduces the airport’s carbon footprint by eliminating the use of gasoline-powered equipment.

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