The unincorporated community of Pebble Beach is a little bit safer from fire thanks to the efforts of a herd of 300 goats, Cal Fire said Friday.
The goats, provided by Orinda-based Goats R Us, are eating grass and brush to lower the risk of wildfire by keeping the grass short and the brush thinned, according to Cal Fire.
Described as "having a taste for fire prevention," the goats are scattered across various locations in Pebble Beach, an unincorporated community on the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey County.
Goats have been coming to Pebble Beach for this purpose for nearly 20 years, the fire agency said.
While it's fine to photograph the goats, Cal Fire asks that passersby not feed them, saying it would make them sick. Also, while to goats poison oak is a delicacy and not harmful, the same thing isn't true of humans. Since many of the goats will likely have poison oak oils on their coats, the agency implores people not to pet them.
