• Why are goats used to eat weeds? Because they are a natural way to remove weeds instead of mowing and spraying herbicide.
• They easily climb steep slopes that are dangerous for landscaping workers. Removing weeds in open space near homes is an important way to prevent wildfires.
• Goats are among the earliest domesticated animals. They started living with people 10,000 years ago.
• Goats are mammals. They have fur, give birth to live babies, and are warm-blooded.
• Goats are extremely intelligent animals. They are friendly, playful and adorable.
• Goats love to eat weeds. Their favorite is the yellow mustard that you see all over hillsides in your neighborhood.
• Goats browse, meaning they reach up to the top of a plant stalk, push it over, then eat the leaves and flowers. Sheep, deer, cows, horses and other animals graze looking down and eat short grasses and weeds.
• The female goat is called a “doe” or a “nanny.” The male goat is called a “buck” or a “billy.” A baby goat is called a “kid.”
• Goats do not have teeth in their upper front jaw, but goats have 24 molars used to grind their food. Myth buster: they do not eat tin cans, clothing, or garbage.
• Goats are raised on farms for their meat, milk and wool. Goat milk is more popular around the world than cow milk.
• The goats in our herd are two breeds, Boer and Spanish.
• Goats are very agile and some can jump over 5 feet.
• Goats don’t like to get wet. They seek shelter when it’s raining and avoid water such as streams and ponds.
• Goats have 4 stomachs, after they graze or browse, they rest for a while to digest the weeds.
• Goats love to play and jump. A favorite game is “King of the Mountain.”
• Goats are herbivores. Their diet is plants, mainly grass, hay, and grain. This makes them excellent animals to eat weeds before they dry out in the summer and create a fire hazard.
• Goats live in pens or fenced areas to protect them from predators and to keep them from wandering away.
• Goats live with a guard dog whose job is to watch out for danger and keep the goats safe.
• What do goats sound like? When they “speak” they bleat. It sounds like “Baaaaa.”
• They are known for their loud burps as they digest food. They also like to “scream.”

Hint: Reading these fun facts about goats will help you to complete the goat crossword. Find it on the Children's Activities page.