When four years of drought turns suburban meadows into potential tinderboxes,
it’s time to call for help.
Curious and agile,
these bucks, does, and kids will eat just about anything.
As a result, the adorable natural lawnmowers have become a favorite for clearing dry brush on California hillsides and uneven terrain without the threat of sparks.
They have been busy at work for over a week in the preserved open space behind my work. These acres of meadow, oak trees and a bone-dry creek are bordered in the distance by suburban homes. A fire here would find plenty of fuel.
With their four-chambered stomachs, goats have a preference for weeds,
woody shrubs
and the occasional tree –
making their week here a feast fit for kings (and queens).
Their horizontal, slit-shaped eyes are designed for spying predators,
And when they require assistance,
it helps to keep a trusty dog nearby.
There are over 300 different breeds of goat … more than a few of them at work here.
Billy goats: conservation grazers doing their part in drought-stricken California.
Gardens For Goldens 