The Goat Brigade: Preventing Wildfires in Southern California

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 contribute to the fires.

Credits

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, Youtube User “thatlocalsportsguy”

Meet the Producer

About Luke Groskin

Luke Groskin is Science Friday’s video producer. He’s on a mission to make you love spiders and other odd creatures.