When extreme overgrowth and underbrush behind a California courthouse threatened the risk of fires, officials  turned to a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution: they hired a herd of goats. An efficient vegetation management tool, goats cost thousands less than human laborers would. [Editor's Note: Livestock can make a dent in fuels reduction even on a small scale. I can attest that our family pet "Twinkle" the goat mowed down her share of overgrowth over the years at our family home in Sonoma County.]