California labor laws affecting goat herders could remove key state wildfire prevention method

Goats may be the latest victim of California's red tape laws. Changes in state labor requirements for herders may affect both businesses and the environment as wildfire season approaches.

Goat herders were recently reclassified by California labor regulators and given a separate distinction from sheepherders. Now, goat herders will not be eligible for monthly compensation and will instead receive hourly pay plus required overtime — a decision that will make it difficult for employers to keep their goat herder business afloat.

For the past couple of years, there was an exception for goat and sheep herders for these...