Answer: Yes, in the short term the use of goats to get rid of buckthorn is very effective and can be effective in the long term with ongoing management. Goats are increasingly being used to manage invasive buckthorn in woodlands and new research shows when and how they are best used. She manages several sites where the use of regular goat browsing is opening up space in the understory for appropriate understory plants to get a toe-hold. Goats can help clear the way for native plants, but rebuilding healthy ecosystems requires sustained effort, active native vegetation restoration efforts, and ongoing management. Researchers recommend other strategies in addition to goat browsing such as, herbicide treatments (especially for resprouts), cutting and mechanical removal, and repeat browsing over several years.