June 18, 2025
They’re cute, funny, a little bit famous, and an essential part of the Lab’s efforts to reduce wildfire risks and improve safety. Each year, goats from "Goats R Us" in Orinda are brought onsite to munch on grasses that blanket the Lab's hilly terrain, making the area safer for the Lab and its neighbors. Goats are an effective and eco-friendly way to manage vegetation and mitigate fire risk.
A 300-strong herd of goats arrived at the Lab on June 17. They will stay between 4 and 6 weeks. You will be able to follow along with their progress on the Goat Spotter Map below.
Updated July 15
Follow the goats' progress as they munch their way across the Lab.
Goats were one of the first animals to be domesticated 11,000 years ago
Goats have rectangular-shaped pupils that allow them to have a wider field of vision, which helps them spot predators more easily
Goats have accents, and a particular goat’s bleat will sound different from that of a goat in a different country
Goats can eat up to 25% of their body weight in vegetation each day
Got a good goat fact to share? Tell us!
Video - Lab 360: Meet the Four-Footed Workers of the Lab
Video - Herding Goats at the Lab
Video - Goat Crossing