When winter settles in across Michigan, most landscaping equipment gets parked for the season. But for some of DTE’s most popular four-legged coworkers, the colder months are less about clocking in and more about recharging.
After a busy 2025 grazing season helping manage invasive vegetation at four different DTE service centers, the goats spent the winter months resting and preparing for another year on the job. As spring arrives, they’re ready to head back out to the fields and get to work.
Doing what they do best… eating!
“The goats spent the winter doing a lot of sleeping, snuggling and eating. Everyone made it safe and sound through the cold winter,” said Jessica Scavo of Michigoat. “They are ready for warmer weather and what goats do best… more eating!”
Cuddling up for the winter
Last year DTE’s newly named goat Vincent Van Goat, and 24 of his closest friends, doubled their grazing square footage in just six months’ time, offering an eco‑friendly alternative to traditional maintenance methods. Their workload naturally slows when cold weather hits and plants go dormant, giving the goats time for a long winter vacation.
That downtime is intentional. The colder months allow the herd to rest and recover while their owners plan for the upcoming season. It’s a reset that mirrors the natural cycle of the land they help restore and it ensures the goats are healthy and ready to chow down when greenery returns.
Winter snow turned the goats into sheep!
While the goats may not have been actively grazing DTE sites this winter, their impact continues year-round. Areas they’ve already worked in often experience reduced regrowth, meaning less maintenance is needed over time.
“As we head into their second year, the goats will continue removing invasive species, like phragmites, while native seeds are planted to restore the site, increasing biodiversity and reducing long-term maintenance cost,” said Collin O’Shaughnessy, supervisor in Environmental Sustainability at DTE.
As temperatures rise and vegetation begins to grow, the goats are once again gearing up to visit DTE properties. Their return marks the start of another season of chemical-free, low-emission landscaping, a nature-based solution that has become a familiar and celebrated sight at many locations. They don’t just offer environmental benefits; they’re a great reminder that sustainability can show up in different ways and offer numerous benefits.
Vincent Van Goat snuggles up with his sister
“The goats don’t just support environmental goals, they make business sense,” said Christy Clark, director of Environmental Sustainability at DTE. “Over time, reduced regrowth lowers long-term landscaping costs and delivers a meaningful return on investment.”
By pairing thoughtful winter planning with active spring and summer grazing, the goats are ready to take on even more spaces, increasing their service territory to six DTE locations when they begin their work in May. From Mount Clemens to Michigan Avenue, Vincent Van Goat and friends will be hard at work, offering another season of cleaner, greener landscaping.
Stay tuned for the summer season when we might add a new animal to the DTE family!
Meet our newest goat interns!
To learn more about Michigoat or to see if the goats are available to clear vegetation where you live, contact Jessica at mymichigoat@gmail.com or follow them on Instagram to see the goats hard at work at @mymichigoat.