Simi Valley, CA, USA - May 9, 2024

A peculiar yet effective sight greeted visitors at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley on Thursday morning. A bleating battalion of approximately 450 goats descended upon the 100-acre campus, not as curious tourists, but as diligent workers with a voracious appetite.

Their mission is to munch on grasses and brush, diligently trimming back potential fuel sources and reducing the risk of wildfires around the iconic facility. This eco-friendly approach to vegetation management has become a staple at the library, with the goat tribe spending weeks on-site, tirelessly fulfilling their task.

The memory of the 2019 Easy Fire looms large for the staff and volunteers. The wildfire, which posed a grave threat to the structures, caused extensive damage totaling $500,000 across the site. Critical infrastructure was scorched, flames consumed signs, and the pavilion housing Air Force One narrowly escaped destruction, with the blaze advancing to within mere feet of the historic aircraft.