SEASIDE PARK, N.J. (AP) -- Officials in a New Jersey shore town might use goats from Maryland to rid an environmentally-sensitive area of poison ivy.

Seaside Park can't burn the toxic plant or use chemicals because the patch overlooks Barnegat Bay. The town is considering an alternative.

Officials believe it would cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to use nature's weed eaters.

Councilman Michael Tierney tells the Asbury Park Press ( http://on.app.com/NjtQKL ) the cost includes two handlers who come from Maryland to watch over the 15 to 18 goats.

Dawn Yurkiewicz of Stratford Farm in Whiteford, Md., tells the newspaper it might take the entire herd up to three weeks to eat all the poison ivy.

New Jersey environmental officials are worried the goats might also eat rare plants along the bay.

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Information from: Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, http://www.app.com