Good Grief, I forgot to get back to this draft to post!
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Yesterday the Presidio (San Francisco) posted to their Facebook page that "The Goats have arrived", to graze on the Golf Course. I had no idea the Goats were coming. They also asked if anyone was there for the festivities of their arrival to share photos. I had no idea the Goats were coming.
It may sound minor, and in the grand scheme of things it is, but this bugged me. I love me some Goats, and would have loved to see this. Why not post about this in advance? In a back search they posted one previous, but that was at 11a to say the Goats were arriving at 1p. Anyway, just a vent on that.
Today (8.8.12) I went out there to try and see the Goats. As I walked out toward the Course, I stopped one Staffer in a cart and asked where they were. He first made it seem like they weren't visible, in fact I'm sure he said just that. Upon further proding, (yes I am the Goat Stalker!) he pointed to a direction that was off in the distance and said you might be able to look down at them from the Range. The last time I was at a Golf Course was in 1981 when I went to meet actor Tony Danza. I know nothing about range. Clearly as I headed off on the journey.
The journey I took was going to the left as that was the direction pointed out.
You can clearly see on the right that the Goaters are right there. Direction FAIL by Staffer!
There is a reason people ride in carts. Its quite an area, a Golf Course lol! I asked a couple people along the way and finally one guy was helpful in pointing to the exact location where he had seem them. This spot was visible from the eact spot I asked the Staffer. Would have been nice if he had turned, pointed and said, "There they are." Instead I went on a half hour trek, that thankfully didn't turn out to be a Wild Goat Chase :)
As I approached I saw fencing and remembered the last time I saw Grazing Goats, there was a fence. Duh, I should have just looked for that on my own. Anyway, I followed the fence, while several men warned me about getthing hit in the head with a ball. Serously, I had never even thought that would be an issue. What Goat Stalker would?
Finally, there they were! The Goaters in all their cute glory!
They gave me a look as I shouted out to them, "Hi Goaters!"
I watched them a bit and they did some cute and fun things. Ran about kicking their heels in a frolic! Made cute Goat sounds : Drank from a big tub. Ran as a heard a couple times (I think one must be the leader and let's them know when to change places). They were lovely and adorable. They could care less that I was there.
see my video :)
Many people there seemed to think it was dangerous for me to walk about there, so not sure if I'll be going back. I will say that the spot they were in today, frankly seemed dangerous. It was right in the fore-front of the Range, so in the area where all the balls are hit to. I stood behind a net, but the Goats are not protected by a net. What if one gets hit?
I also didn't like that the Dog who "sheperds them" is in a carrier that's about 2x3 if that, with no water inside. I will have to investigate these issues further. I will update and post any information I find out.
I actually asked a Staffer about the Dog, and he really didn't know anything, but brought up Coyotes into the conversation mix. Now I'm worried a Coyote may go after the Dog and/or the Goats.
I'm also curious about the vegetation they are grazing on. Some of it is very thorny. I would think that would be safe. Also there was one plant (in another area) that had a "fruit" of sorts. I would like to find out if the plants are all ID'd and deemed safe before letting these Goats free graze entire areas.
A bit about the Goats.
The Presidio posted a bit about them and what they will do there, noting that they are Boer Goats. They also noted the they would be there for two weeks and there would be "petting zoo" times.
Here is an article with more information:
FYI This article states that they like the thorny stuff?
More on Goats
The Goats I saw before were from City Grazers.
You can view photos of them here:
http://mycitysf.shutterfly.com/243
You can view photos of them here:
http://mycitysf.shutterfly.com/243
