Overgrown LA Tract Turns to 'Scape Goats

The sight of 100 goats feasting through a weedy tract in downtown Los Angeles yesterday had commuters guessing whether the caprine contingent was part of a movie, performance art—or perhaps lunch. In fact, the city hired the (land)scape goats in lieu of gas-powered weed whackers as a greener, cheaper fix, the Times reports.

Electric fencing protects the grazing animals from the surrounding concrete jungle, but it couldn't stop a cell-phone photo shoot. "My friends won't believe this unless they see it," one onlooker said. The goats were rented for $3,000, about half of what it costs to have workmen bulldoze through the sloped plot. Plus "it's a wonderful contrast," notes one observer. (More weird news stories.)