The Goat Brigade: Preventing Wildfires in Southern California (feat. GoatPro)

www.sciencefriday.com
Armed with appetites and attitudes, brush-clearing goats will mow down weeds and shrubs from even the steepest of Southern California's hillsides. Perfectly adapted to a life of constant browsing, these ruminants are being deployed as a shield against the region's rampant wildfires. We join Ian Newsam, owner of Brush Goats 4 Hire, and his "elite" herd of goats as they reduce the invasive plants and fuel that contributes to the fires.
Produced by Luke Groskin
Music by Audio Network
Additional Stills and Video Courtesy
Henry the Goat, California Office of Emergency Management, U.S. Geological Survey, KZbin User "thatlocalsportsguy"

[@charlieswearingen500]

Another good thing that I didn't hear mentioned about goats is that their digestive tract destroys most of the invasive plant seeds...

[@jimatmile56]

I've raised goats and they really are good at clearing brush without damaging the land, especially hillsides.

[@eugenetswong]

Are sheep any good?

[@MarcelJanKr]

I wonder how they pitched this idea. "To prevent wildfires I need an elite team of goats!"

[@hemaccabe4292]

I think we can think of goats as an alternative to pre-burns. They can't fix everything, but they're a lot better than setting managed fires as a control method.

[@jasonborne4236]

We need more goats in SoCal. 2020

[@oldmech619]

Every year or so for the last 40 years someone drags these goats out and get a tv crew to put out a video short. Yes, Los Angeles knows about these grazers.

[@downbntout]

And 2021, and 2022...

[@phoulmouth]

So, I understand goats and their ability to clear brush. I have used this method in the past. There is a local company that rents their goats to people for this exact purpose, it's how I now have a real back yard. Cost me 1/4 of what a landscaper would have charged. The real question here is why is the California State Legislature not Protecting goats, and buying goats to release into their forests? Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that this will stop their wildfire season, but after a few years we won't be watching wildfires spreading through California at 50 miles an hour, santa anna winds or not. Wildfires don't spread for healthy live tree to healthy live tree. They spread through undergrowth and dead/unhealthy trees. Goats will clear that underbrush, which will stop it from choking tree roots, thus making more healthy trees. Is California's State Legislature just incompetent?

[@edouardomaindargent7685]

You also need to watch this to understand the fires : kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWe5kqysbqt2gq8 We really see the effect of goats in Europe, especially France, because as the peasant are less and less, fires go worse and worse. We can say goats yes, but every big mamals should help and the hunting activity do not help them to get a big enough population that could replace the effect of livestock herds!

[@the_Mrs.]

KZbin: here’s a video about goats from 7 years ago, are you interested? Me: yes please, may I have another?

[@chopperking007]

Good job goaties

[@Zorriel]

I heard that the Getty Center get a herd of goats.. and I was just confused until I saw this video xD.

[@sunsetkitty2932]

Where are you at now in 2020?!

[@Tzarina8472]

Ask the Sierra Club.

[@Bluerage98]

We need them again

[@sydneyspice3241]

Ruminants have a four-chambered stomach. They do not have four stomachs.

[@asanablue]

Awesome!

[@ced1106]

Hope they helped out with the CA mega-fires!

[@brockjazz8838]

1000 herds of 200-300 goats each roaming the California countryside and forests. That would greatly reduce fire danger. Does anyone in govt. have a clue?

[@D15557]

Great video, where is Flora?

[@scifri]

Flora left to work on other projects, and we are sad to see her go. She made a brief goodbye the last time she guest hosted. She's also doing a few videos for us, so keep your eyes peeled!

[@janelightning73]

Best idea yet.

[@godc.bedeinforcer.649]

Hey goatie, we're sending you on a trip. It's a one way ticket. Excited or what? Kekekeke.

[@GavinOReilly.]

After the galagos islands incident this is a goat redemption arc

[@josephfernandez5706]

Aries The Goat

[@holycow8143]

I love goat's!

[@kickboxer8173]

wow

[@wandaalexander1972]

Looks like this must have gone exactly nowhere. I live in California and I haven't seen any goat herds anywhere, and here we are again with record setting fires in 2020.

[@aleenaprasannan2146]

Well apparently goats can't stop idiots from using smoke bombs in gender reveal parties, with substances that cause fire

[@AmitKumar-qz2us]

Natural life need natural solution...

[@markliebman4718]

mmmmmm -- nasturtiums.. I'd eat those too. Think that they are laid down for the photography?

[@BobbyL80123]

Where can i get a job where I can just eat for a living.

[@gaius_enceladus]

@Bobby Liang - Comment of the day right there! :)

[@dlwatib]

If you're willing to eat nothing but thistles, thorny brambles and prickly leaves like a goat, you're hired.

[@v.britton4445]

Vote out the Republicans Break up the monopolies Green Goats ♡

[@makmak151515]

I ha,d 3 Nubian goats to get rid of my 5 acres of black berries and they did a great job. However they broke out and crushed the hood of my new truck and ate all of my wife’s roses. An old man that loved goats came by and wanted them. The little bastards had a great life which I believe they didn’t deserve. Luca

[@daviddiani5825]

Deers are Better than goats!!!!!

[@dlwatib]

We need both. Goats eat things that deer won't.

[@deonli8014]

So Donald Trump was right about about forest management?

[@kanethompson708]

No

[@severedyakhead9702]

@@kanethompson708 yes