The Bizarre Reason Google Hired 200 Goats to Work at Their Headquarters

At first glance, it sounds like a headline straight out of a satirical newspaper: “Google Hires 200 Goats.” But as with many seemingly strange things in Silicon Valley, there’s a method to the madness. Back in 2009, the tech giant made headlines by hiring a herd of goats to take over landscaping duties at its sprawling Mountain View campus — and this wasn’t a publicity stunt or a corporate prank. It was a calculated, eco-conscious decision rooted in sustainability, environmental stewardship, and a touch of whimsy.

But why goats? And what do goats have to do with one of the most technologically advanced companies on the planet? The answer is both bizarre and surprisingly brilliant.

The Origins of Google’s Goat Grazing Program

Google’s headquarters, known as the Googleplex, is surrounded by large swaths of grassland. Maintaining this green space requires regular landscaping to prevent overgrowth, reduce fire hazards, and maintain an aesthetically pleasing environment. Traditionally, this meant gas-powered lawnmowers, weed trimmers, and teams of human landscapers.

However, with Google’s ever-growing commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint, the company began looking for alternative landscaping methods. Enter goats.

In 2009, Google contracted a company called California Grazing, which specializes in “prescriptive grazing” — essentially, using herds of goats as living lawnmowers. These goats are transported to areas needing maintenance, where they munch their way through grass, weeds, and even invasive plants like blackberry and thistle. It’s all part of a process that’s surprisingly efficient and much better for the planet than traditional methods.

How It Works

Once the goats arrive at Google’s campus, they’re put to work — although their job description might seem more like a picnic. The animals graze for several days, covering roughly an acre per day. They are accompanied by a goat herder and a border collie to keep them moving in the right direction and prevent any escape attempts.

The goats not only trim the grass but also fertilize the soil in the process — all naturally, of course. Their grazing patterns help aerate the soil and reduce the spread of invasive plant species. Even better, there’s no noise pollution or emissions involved.

As Google noted in their official blog post about the initiative:
“It costs us about the same as mowing, and the goats are a lot cuter to watch than lawnmowers.”

Sustainability Meets Quirkiness

Google’s decision to hire goats reflects the company’s unique culture. From office slides and nap pods to colorful bikes and whimsical logos, Google has long cultivated a quirky image — but with serious intent. In this case, what might appear like a charming novelty actually aligns with core environmental values and sustainability practices.

Using goats to manage vegetation is part of a larger trend known as targeted grazing, which has gained traction among eco-conscious organizations and even municipalities. Unlike gas-powered machines, goats don’t rely on fossil fuels, and they don’t contribute to air or noise pollution. They’re also remarkably effective on uneven terrain or hard-to-reach places, making them ideal for places like Google’s expansive campus.

Unexpected Benefits

While the primary aim was ecological, the goats brought other unexpected benefits to the Googleplex. Employees reportedly enjoyed seeing the animals outside their office windows — a refreshing break from staring at screens. Some Googlers even took breaks to visit the goats, finding their presence calming and amusing.

One employee joked that the goats were probably better at “eating through inboxes” than they were at grass. Another claimed that a goat tried to chew on their lanyard during a selfie attempt. Stories like these only added to the lighthearted mystique of the program.

There’s even evidence to suggest that exposure to animals, even in passing, can reduce stress and improve mood — a bonus for employees in the high-pressure world of tech.

A Ripple Effect?

Google wasn’t the first to use goats for landscaping, but its involvement brought significant attention to the practice. Since then, other tech companies, municipalities, and even airports have begun experimenting with goat-powered maintenance.

In places like San Francisco and Los Angeles, goats are now used for brush clearance to prevent wildfires. Airports in Chicago and Atlanta have adopted similar programs to clear areas that are difficult or unsafe for human workers. The U.S. Forest Service has even used goats to control invasive plant species in national parks.

Google, as it often does, helped take an under-the-radar eco-practice and bring it into the mainstream.

Goats in the Digital Age

The sight of 200 goats munching their way through Silicon Valley might seem like a juxtaposition — analog creatures in the heart of the digital revolution. But perhaps that’s what makes it so compelling. In an industry obsessed with cutting-edge solutions, sometimes the answer lies in going back to basics.

Google’s goat experiment serves as a reminder that innovation doesn’t always have to involve code, circuits, or cloud computing. Sometimes, it can be as simple as a hungry herd of goats with a job to do.

So the next time someone tells you Google hired goats, you can say: yes, and it might be one of the smartest hires they ever made.