F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, the home of the Air Force's 90th Missile Wing, has a problem. No, it's not missile alert crews caught napping or mishandling of nuclear warheads. It's something more insidious: Silent killers that are infiltrating the base.
In other words, weeds. According to a solicitation issued yesterday, the 90th Missile Wing is looking to eradicate "invasive species" that threaten the Colorado Butterfly Plant, an endangered perennial herb that is found on base. And it needs a few hungry goats to do the job.
The weed-control scheme is supposed to help prevent the Colorado Butterfly Plant from being choked off by Canada thistle, leafy spurge, Dalmatian toadflax, hound's tongue and hoary cress. According to the solicitation, "this situation presents an opportunity to test potential methods for weed control in threatened species habitat for effectiveness, likelihood of adverse impact to sensitive species, and manageability."
In other words, the goats will get to graze away on approximately 494 acres of Warren AFB, along portions of Crow Creek, Diamond Creek, and other parts of the installation. But that doesn't mean the goats get an all-access pass: The contractor, the solicitation says, "shall provide transportation of the goats to and from the base."
The contractors is also supposed to hire an experienced (and English-speaking) livestock handler. And no, you don't get to shoot any predators that are menacing your goats: Weapons aren't allowed on the nuclear missile base.
(Goatspotter: Bread)
[PHOTO: Wired.com]
