The City of Montreal has brought in a couple of draft horses to help clear some of the trees that are being cut down on Mount Royal this year because of the emerald ash borer infestation.
The city has awarded a farmer in the Laurentians an eight-day contract to have two draft horses clear trees that have been cut down in what are considered environmentally sensitive areas of the mountain.
Currently trees that have been felled in marshland or other wetlands are cut into pieces and hauled out by hand, but that method is considered dangerous, costly and time consuming.
The horses cause less damage than heavy machinery, and if things go well the contract may be extended.
The Metro newspaper says 4000 trees will be cut down this year and the horses will be used to haul about 200 of the trees.
The work must be completed before the end of the month, because no trees will be taken down during nesting season.