In preparation for the construction of the Coastal Biology building at the UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science Campus, a herd of 500 hungry goats will arrive at the site in late February to clear vegetation from the construction zones.
The goats, provided by Living Systems Land Management, will be fenced and accompanied by a full-time herder. Using goats will cause less noise and dust than using equipment to mow and clear the brush. It is expected to take two to three weeks for the goats to finish clearing the grasses and other low vegetation.
Construction of the Coastal Biology building is scheduled to begin in May 2015. The new building will support research and teaching on coastal conservation, ecology, habitat restoration, climate change impacts, and policy. More information about the Coastal Biology building project is available online at www.ucsc.edu/coastalbiology.
