Goats get a bad rap in the Bible, what with always being separated out from the sheep and sent off in shame. But in California, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is rejuvenating the goats’ image by turning nature’s lawnmower into wildfire fighters:
"From hilly San Francisco to more rural settings, California landowners, business and officials have hired the voracious animals to devour the grass and brush that fuels wildfires.
"Last year, more than 5,500 fires blackened over 168,000 acres in the most populous U.S. state.
"’Goats are just another tool in the toolbox for California and we try to use as many tools as possible,’ California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Michael Jarvis said in an interview last week."
The meek who inherit the land will have the goats to thank.
There’s a goats-fire-hell joke in here somewhere.
I love goats. Especially goats that have been near open flames. Nice, broiling hot open flames. Mmm… Fried goat…