A few weeks ago, a group of grazing goats wrapped up their first round of munching invasive plants at several spots along the Polly Ann Trail.

But that feeding frenzy has one Oxford Township resident worried.

According to Dan Bischoff, the heightened activity on the trail brought on by the goats, paired with the clearance of brush on property lines, could lead to an increase in vandalism and reduced privacy for residents living along the popular path.

When he moved to his home on Tanview Dr. over 30 years ago, it stood alongside an inactive railroad, formerly the Pontiac, Oxford and Northern rail line, nicknamed Polly Ann.

Following the railway’s conversion into a linear public park around 1993, Bischoff said the brush along the trail bordering his property was once completely eliminated by a power company. This led to several acts of vandalism.

“I put signs up (stating) ‘no trespassing.’ Those were ripped down and I’ve had to pick up trash. People walk their dogs and they pick up dog poop on the trail . . . then they take the bag and they hook it on my fence,” Bischoff said.

Leonard Village President Mike McDonald, who serves on the Polly Ann Trail Management Council (PATMC), said officials advise trail-users to avoid trespassing on private property when walking, running or biking.

“We don’t allow or encourage the public to take shortcuts. They’re supposed to get on the trail at public access sites or road intersection(s). Anywhere there’s a public means to gain access, they’re welcome to do so, (but we) discourage the public from going on private property to (access) the trail,” said McDonald.

In early May, Bischoff said he was walking his dog on his property when he first saw the goat fence erected along the trail, bordering his land. This was during the goats’ initial two-week run.

Having noticed greater activity along the trail where the goats were located and in an effort to maintain privacy along his property, Bischoff approached Trail Manager Linda Moran with his complaint.

In response, McDonald said the goats were moved to a different area.

“(Moran) elected to move the goats to a different point, slightly north of the area, so they would not draw the crowds he was afraid of . . . We are only managers of the Polly Ann Trail, we do not own the property, so when there are property problems or concerns, such as maintenance and things that are out of the ordinary, we refer them back to the Department of Natural Resources. In this case, we have done that,” McDonald said.

Despite this incident, McDonald said the goats were largely well-received by the Oxford public. Fund-raising efforts are still being organized by Moran in an effort to raise matching funds to qualify for grants at the local, state and national levels to allow the animals to continue grazing along the trail.

Although Bischoff said he does not take issue with the use of goats for plant-control purposes, he said he hopes trail officials will consider the concerns and property rights of homeowners living along the trail as they continue their efforts moving forward.

“I don’t have an issue with the goats. My concern is that if the trail is completely wide open and there is no buffer left . . . it’s a matter of respecting the fact that, although (trail officials) may have a right of way to do that, if (they) do that, it’s going to have negative effects on my property,” Bischoff added. “I’m not really crazy about the use of a lot of chemicals along the trail to kill vegetation . . . you either use goats along the trail or you trim it, but the whole point (is) that it doesn’t have to be drastic… Leave 3 to 5 feet of growth along what would be considered my property and don’t open it . . . up (to) where (the brush is) totally down to the ground.”