High above Terra Linda, in the Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Divide, hundreds of goats are “monching and cronching” on the dry grass as a means of fire prevention. Over 400 goats and sheep have spent the last two months grazing in the open space to reduce the fuel available for fires in the coming fire season.

Marla and I have hiked up a few times in the past week to check in on their progress. Mara the Dog joined us on our last walk. She wasn’t sure what to make of the goats, initially steering very clear of the animals inside their electrified pen. Over the next 30 minutes she got a little more curious and moved in for a closer look but never took to barking.

We left as the sun was setting and enjoyed a few goats stretching up on two hind legs to better reach the leaves of the trees.