Arlington police officers were involved in a humorous scene on February 27 after they were forced to become goat herders to corral a herd that escaped from their enclosure at the Crystal Canyon Natural Area in North Texas.
The goats, brought in by the city to clear brush and invasive plants, decided to explore the nearby neighborhoods, much to the surprise of local residents and law enforcement.
“It looks like they may have gotten out of the fence, or the fence fell, we don’t know exactly what happened, but they got out,” remarked Police Sergeant Alex Rosado.
The Arlington Police Department was ultimately called in for assistance to round up the goats, leading to hilarious body camera footage where officers showcased their wrangling efforts.
“We got one runner,” exclaimed one officer in the video.
“Go, goats, go! Back to where you came from, please,” another officer urged. “Who knew we were goat wranglers now.”
Despite the unusual nature of the call, police eventually made sure that all the goats were safely guided back to their designated park enclosure.
According to the City of Arlington, the city has partnered with Open Space Development on a “goatscaping” mission — an innovative approach to brush clearance for wildfire prevention.
A total of 474 goats have been employed to tackle 58 acres of thick underbrush for a week-long campaign.
Goats are known for their voracious appetite and adaptability to challenging terrains, offering an eco-friendly solution to clearing out overgrown areas.
“They’ll eat grasses, weeds, and leaves from small trees and are known for clearing out areas like the city is hoping they’ll do,” explained a local news report.
This proactive measure aimed to mitigate the risk of wildfires in the area, a pressing concern amidst ongoing fire incidents across Texas, which have ravaged over 500,000 acres of land thus far.
Following their 40-minute walkabout, the returned animals continued their clearing mission. “File this one under ‘Only in Texas,’” Arlington police wrote on social media.
