WHAT: For students, staff or visitors at Río Hondo College (RHC) who may have spotted a herd of goats on campus recently, there was no reason for alarm – they were on official business.

The goats were intentionally released on campus on July 18 as part of RHC’s ongoing vegetation management and wildfire prevention efforts. Over the course of two weeks, the goats will visit several designated grazing areas on campus under the supervision of a professional herder and a border collie to ensure they remain within their specified zone.

RHC will host a meet-and-greet with the working goat herd to provide students, the college community and visitors the opportunity to learn more about the goat grazing as a wildfire risk reduction, feed and take pictures with the goat herd team.

WHEN: 4 – 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 31

WHERE: Río Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Rd., Whittier

DETAILS: Río Hondo College representatives and Michael Choi, CEO of Fire Grazers Inc., a fire brush management company will be on-site for on-camera interviews.

Goat grazing is a proven, ecologically sound means of brushfire clearing as goats are natural mountaineers that can easily clear difficult-to-access areas, like hillsides or steep slopes, in far less time than a professional landscaping crew, according to Fire Grazers Inc.