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President-elect Donald Trump has been warning California Gov. Gavin Newsom for years that he is not doing enough to keep the forests clean, to prevent the devastating wildfires.
it’s not that complicated, according to Los Angeles Times chairman Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong. In fact, there’s a very simple solution for controlling all the overgrowth on the hillsides and in the forests.
Simply turn loose several herds of goats, and bingo… problem solved!
Goats are commonly used to keep land clean. They eat grass and hay, but they also feast on weeds, grains, tree bark, leaves and other rough brush.
On Sunday, Soon-Shiong wrote on X, “There are so many practical solutions to prevent this catastrophe happening again. We @latimes will be driving some of these. Here is one : Goats for fire breaks at $400 per acre. So why not????”
“The @latimes wrote about this fire prevention using goats. Laguna city council had the vision to do this learning from their previous 1993 fires. LA City council should follow,” he added.
The @latimes wrote about this fire prevention using goats. Laguna city council had the vision to do this learning from their previous 1993 fires. LA City council should follow. https://t.co/9F2WExAJTF
— Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) January 12, 2025
On June 14 of last year, the LA Times had published a report about Laguana Beach, California using this technique. The article states:
Laguna Beach residents and visitors alike have spotted dozens of goats near the village entrance over the past month, a welcomed sight, albeit a fleeting one.
Even during this period of extended visibility, the herd has progressed deeper into the canyon, navigating steep hills most people wouldn’t dare to climb — nor should they.
The goats have a job to do, after all, a most important one to all that want to preserve the little piece of paradise that is Laguna Beach. The town’s goat grazing program has been in place for nearly three decades, one of several mitigation efforts in place against the threat of wildfire.
X user @xonkd, who says he lives in Sutter Creek, west of Sacramento, responded to Soon-Shiong’s suggestion, and wrote, “My community uses goats. Cleared probably 50+ acres in a month of rocky, dry scrub, and grass for $12k. They put an electric fence up around each area for them to stay safe from predators. We have about 300 acres so moved them from area to area throughout the month.”
Soon-Shiong replied, “Goats as practical solutions for fire breaks for the hills of LA and California- tried and tested. Receiving enthusiastic calls of wanting to participate in the council, adding their support to healing LA and all the communities affected. Rebirth from the ashes. We begin now.”
Goats as practical solutions for fire breaks for the hills of LA and California- tried and tested. Receiving enthusiastic calls of wanting to participate in the council, adding their support to healing LA and all the communities affected. Rebirth from the ashes. We begin now. https://t.co/Mg13Mv5016
— Dr. Pat Soon-Shiong (@DrPatSoonShiong) January 13, 2025
X user Lorraine Winterink also weighed in, writing, “I saw this near Sacramento and was amazed how a heard can clear like a single unit! They all stick together!”
“It is and they have a border collie that watches over them at night and herds them. Really difficult terrain given the rocks and slopes so beyond bulldozing, you’d otherwise have to do it by hand,” @xonkd replied.
It is and they have a border collie that watches over them at night and herds them. Really difficult terrain given the rocks and slopes so beyond bulldozing, you’d otherwise have to do it by hand.
— xonkd (@xonkd7) January 13, 2025
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