Goats 8136 Goats 210516.jpg — Not Baaaaad Work If You Can Get It! The Goats Return to the Palos Verdes Peninsula

By Steve Tabor

The steep and slippery slopes of the Palos Verdes canyons and hillsides make it extremely difficult to clear away the variety of non-native plants and weeds that grow during our warm and sunny spring days. For more than ten years, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (Conservancy) have looked to the goats from Mariposa County’s Fire Grazers, Inc. to reduce the overgrowth and rid the area of invasive plants.

Michael Choi, CEO of Fire Grazers, along with his two brothers, Aaron and Joseph, own and operate the company that was founded by their father, Mark. Michael indicates that their father grew tired of the constraints of urban life and left Southern California looking for a quieter and sustainable lifestyle. With no previous experience, Mark purchased the goat farm and with the assistance of his mentor, Mike Canaday, created Fire Grazers.

Mark along with his three sons, worked with the goats from the early beginnings of the business. While in high school, Michael started working with his father. Michael recalls as a teenager lacing up his soccer cleats to climb the canyons and hillsides because he did not own a pair of work boots. In 2013, Mark transferred the business to his sons, but he remains active on the farm caring for the rest of the herd when the Michael and his brothers are conducting land clearing duties throughout Southern California from March to September. Michael points out that most of the goats owned by Fire Grazers have been bred at the Mariposa ranch, but occasionally they purchase goats from ranches in Colorado to supplement the herd.

Michael says that goats are ideal for this type of work, they are extremely agile and can easily climb slopes that humans cannot navigate let alone perform this type of work to the level required for fire clearance or the removal of invasive plants. Generally, the goats eat all types of vegetation and a herd of 400 goats can normally clear up to an acre a day, depending on the year’s rainfall and weed levels.

Fire Grazers has split their on-site herd of 600 goats between two locations on the Peninsula. Brothers Aaron and Joseph tend the part of the herd performing fire prevention brush clearance on property owned by the City of RPV. Michael and his assistant, Brayan, are working the Lunada Canyon project for the Conservancy. Naturally, both sets of shepherds have their trusty canine companions that help herd the goats throughout the day and watch over them at night.

While on location, small trailers parked near the herd serve as home for the shepherds. Michael states “Shepherding is a 24/7 occupation. You can’t leave your herd unattended. Although feeding is not a problem, you must make sure they have ample amounts of water. The low voltage electrified fence helps to contain the goats, but the shepherds have to monitor that the fence remains intact, and the goats do not wander off or that trespassers, human or other types of animals, do not attempt to harm or harass the goats.”

Cris Sarabia, the Conservancy’s Conservation Director, says that the goats should be working in Lunada Canyon for approximately one week, but quickly points out that the goats work on their own schedule. Sarabia explains, “Determining where the goats are placed is a careful process with important fencing constraints. Where they are fenced in Lunada Canyon, there are no native plants. Since these areas only have undesirable weeds, it is a perfect location for the goats. Goats will eat almost anything, and you don’t want to unleash them into an area dominated by native plants.”

During their time in Lunada Canyon, the goats will be consuming invasive species such as mustard, castor beans, fennel and non-native grasses. In addition, the leaves and pods of the acacia shrubs are a favorite of the goats. According to Susan Wilcox, Director of Development, “The seed pods have high protein content, unlike most of the plants they consume. Watching them consume the pods, it seems that they have a huge craving for them.”

The Conservancy is focusing the goats’ efforts on the specific areas of Lunada Canyon. Sarabia explains, “Previously, riparian areas of the canyon have been replanted with native species. Recently, the Conservancy has submitted several grant applications aimed at replanting native species in the canyon. The goats efficiently remove the unwanted plants. They have less environmental impact than humans performing the same tasks and leave little material to remove. Even the goat droppings provide a natural fertilizer and help compost the weeds they consume.”

For the Conservancy, the goat project is funded through community contributions. The Conservancy’s major fundraiser for the venture is the Adopt-A-Goat project. Sarabia estimates it costs approximately $100 per day for each goat. Donors can adopt a goat for a day or an extended period. In addition to the regular donation benefits, Adopt-A-Goat benefactors can have their portrait taken with one of the goats on site. For more information about the Adopt-A-Goat program visit Conservancy’s website at www.pvplc.org.

Steve Tabor Bio

This South Bay native’s photographic journey began after receiving his first 35 mm film camera upon earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. Steve began with photographing coastal landscapes and marine life. As a classroom teacher he used photography to share the world and his experiences with his students. Steve has expanded his photographic talents to include portraits and group photography, special event photography as well as live performance and athletics. Steve serves as a volunteer ranger for the Catalina Island Conservancy and uses this opportunity to document the flora and fauna of the island’s interior as well as photograph special events and activities.

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