California relies on goats to combat fires. A wage change threatens the industry

California utilizes goats to clear brush and prevent wildfires across the state. However, the industry is currently facing a significant threat due to new labor laws. These regulations have increased the required overtime pay for goat herders, which has made the practice of using livestock for fire prevention too costly to maintain. Consequently, the financial burden imposed by these wage changes is jeopardizing the viability of using goats to combat fires in California.