GREEN BAY Wis. — The sheep and goats roaming Renard Island are more than just cute; they have a specific job.

They’re a part of Brown County’s new low-tech solution to trim overgrown vegetation.

“They will be here for the whole summer, or at least until October. They’re here 24/7. We have different protections up to protect them,” shepherd Roxie Emunson said.

Fifty sheep and goats are helping to landscape the island. Emunson described her flock’s job as a joint venture with Mother Nature.

“They work kind of simultaneously with the pollinators and all of the birds and that type of stuff. So, they’re not going to disturb the birds’ nests. The mowers were more laying down and putting the seed back out where they were going to ingest it,” Emunson said.

Mark Walter is with Brown County’s Port and Resource Recovery. Walter said Renard Island was built as a dredge material disposal site.

It’s in a years-long process of being rehabbed and turned into a recreation facility. He said during this time, the island still requires maintenance.

“It’s a huge seed bank… the soil just grows weeds and everything else, just really naturally very tall,” Walter said.

The 55-acre island also has uneven surfaces, which would cause equipment to break, costing the county a fair amount of money.

So, Walter said the county settled on Mother Nature’s four-legged lawnmowers.

“The cost is about the same as having mechanical mowers out there. But we’re not breaking machinery and they’re doing a better job in many ways. And then they’re adding to improving the quality of the vegetation in the soil,” Walter said.

It’ll take a few months for this flock to complete their job. Emunson said their finished product might look a little rough, but it’ll be a job well done.

“If you want to have a gorgeous Wisconsin golf course. Look, that’s not what you’re gonna have here. This is going to be something that the public can come out and be a part of and see how beautiful Renard Island is,” Emunson said.