Zero hour for Operation Goat Cleanup has arrived.

The team of five dozen goats hired by the Historic Congressional Cemetery to deal with its invasive species problem set up shop in the cemetery’s wooded perimeter this morning. The industrious animals will spend the next six to eight days chowing down on poison ivy and other unwanted foliage. Though the goats will be separated from the main cemetery by a fence, visitors are welcome to watch from afar. Or to click on this slideshow of the goats.

 Photo by Darrow Montgomery