Goats chew their way to fire safety

Twenty-five kindergarten students from Mrs. Roehrs' Empire Ranch Elementary School class were full of questions for goat tenders Julie and Roy Austin, owners of Goat Central.On Tuesday, Aug. 25, 150 goats chomped away on dense vegetation in the Empire Ranch area while Mayor Steve Miklos and Animal Services Officer Cindy Walden were on hand to see the goats and visit with the students. The kids were invited to see how this herd of goats can clear out dense weeds and overgrown areas at a water detention pond near their school. The Empire Ranch Homeowners Association contracted with Goat Central to do the weed abatement in many open space areas and create firebreaks. Bringing the four-legged "weed whackers" to Folsom was the brainchild of Terri Sublett, of Vierra-Moore, who manages the association. Goat Central has successfully done weed abatement in Citrus Heights and the Folsom Zoo. The goats are an alternative to bringing in labor crews for the potential cost savings and are a much greener approach to doing weed abatement, according to Sublett. The goats have quickly and quietly moved through many acres and attracted the positive attention of residents.Sublett said the community's response has been great, with parents and kids stopping to pet the goats and talk to goat tender, Roy. The goats will eat their way through all 17 basins in the east area to make sure the areas are clear for fire protection and the winter rains. Roy explained that the goats are very eco-friendly and tread lightly as they clear the unwanted brush.While the goats clear the brush, they are under the watchful eye of two large Anatolian Shepherd dogs that mingle with their horned herd. Julie Austin explained that the dogs protect the herd from predators like coyotes and help keep the goats corralled, while being very friendly to the human visitors who are interested in these goats. Animal Services Officer Walden reported no problems with the goats or the dogs and said Goat Central had good plans in place to make sure the goats stay on task and not wander off.Former state Senator Rico Oller came to visit his old friends Roy and Julie of Goat Central and said he has successfully used goats on his property in Fiddletown. Oller said it was amazing how these animals move through poison oak, blackberry bushes and other non-native species.Miklos was excited to see a new approach to weed abatement being tried in Folsom and applauded the Empire Ranch Homeowners Association for this quieter, innovative and greener approach. Sublett also donated $100 to Roehrs's classroom to help pay for school supplies. The goats will continue to work open space areas in the east area of town for a few weeks and the Goat Central owners encourage the residents to stop by while they work and pet the goats.Bruce Cline is a 20-year Folsom resident and the city attorney.