RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 4 sourcesThe crew of ‘goat-scapers’ continues to expand, with 30 kids born on the Universal Studios Lot
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For the second year in a row, around 500 goats have returned to the Universal Studios Lot, not to front a Hollywood production, but to take on a starring role in wildfire prevention.
The herd is grazing across hundreds of acres of brush-covered hillsides in Universal City, with the “goat-scapers” clearing dense vegetation and eating brush up to about six feet high, reaching areas traditional equipment can struggle to access.
Once the goats finish their work, landscapers remove larger brush and lower branches, while tree crews handle higher vegetation to complete the cleanup. Utilizing the hungry animals is also a lower-risk alternative to some traditional land-clearing methods, which can involve machinery that may create heat or sparks.
"Anytime you have gas-powered equipment, spark plugs and gasoline and rocks getting flipped around, there's a chance for danger," Jorden Anderson, senior director of facilities and engineering at Studio Lot, told NBC Los Angeles Thursday. “With these guys, we obviously don't have any of those same issues."
The benefits are also apparent even after the goats leave. Areas cleared last year have grown back differently, with less dense vegetation and more open meadow-like landscapes that are easier to maintain, according to the outlet. The grazing has also helped native plants and grasses reclaim space while pushing out invasive vegetation.
This year, in just one month, the goats cleared 77 acres of brush, consuming thousands of pounds of potential wildfire fuel each day.
The program has also helped grow the family-owned business behind the effort. Michael Choi and his brothers operate Fire Grazers, a company passed down from their father.
The herd has also become a growing franchise, with 30 baby goats born on the Universal Studios Lot.
"Every year, it gets more busy and the herd grows exponentially," Choi told the news station.
Keeping such a large herd safe requires constant attention, with coyotes posing one of the biggest threats. Two livestock guardian dogs, Noni and Joy, help protect the goats by patrolling the area and chasing away unwelcome wildlife. The dogs spend nights on coyote patrol, though they often grab quick naps whenever they can, NBC Los Angeles reports.
The protection has been effective, with no reported issues in recent weeks, Anderson said.
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