Laguna Beach Goats Chomping Around Ceanothus Drive Area

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — The city of Laguna Beach announced Tuesday that the city's goat herd is hard at work in the area of Ceanothus Drive. It's all part of the city's ongoing plans to mitigate the growth of non-native grasses and plants that otherwise could contribute to wildfires.

Since 2019, Laguna Beach's goat herds have been charged with clearing up to 80 percent of native grasses and 100 percent of non-native vegetation on our hillsides. The goat herd will typically make one pass over each zone. In late 2022, more goat mitigation zones were added to the program in conjunction with hand crews who clear up to 50 percent of the non-native vegetation, herbaceous weeds, and grasses, according to a report from the city. Herbicides are also used, as needed, in certain areas to curtail overgrowth, though goats are the favored mitigation method.

"The herd is 150 goats strong and is not accessible to the general public at this location," a city spokesperson shared over Twitter Tuesday morning. "As a reminder, please do not try to pet or come into contact with the goats."

For the residents, having the goats maintain the hillsides is a part of life on the Emerald Coast. With record rain to start in 2023, the greening of Laguna Beach's hillsides could prove dangerous when the weather dries out toward the end of summer if left unchecked.

"Laguna Beach uses goats to remove dried grass, brush, and chaparral near homes in Laguna Beach to reduce the amount of fuel a potential wildfire can burn," according to the Laguna Beach Fire Prevention web page. "In places where goats cannot go, for instance near sensitive vegetation, hand crews help the goats do their job."

Visit Laguna Beach shared a tidbit about the city's springtime shrubbery maintenance program.

"Each year during springtime, Laguna Beach brings in goats to eat the shrubbery along our coastline to reduce the risk of fires during the warmer months," they Tweeted. "It's a win/win situation! the goats get delicious food and our coastline stays hazard free."