State invests in natural weed eaters

MESA, Ariz. (AP) - January 24, 2011

They're fueled by weeds.

Officials in Messa, Arizona, are putting some new groundskeepers on the payroll.

They're goats and sheep owned by Brad Payne.

He hires out his animals to munch on grass and tumbleweeds.

The animals are used on steep slopes by a freeway.

The herd has some canine company, too.

Trained dogs are being used to keep coyotes away.

Officials say using four-legged weed eaters costs about half of what it would for city workers to do the job.

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