Goat Talk

Editorial by Todd Yamashita

This discussion is off to a great start. I like your ideas, but as they say, good intentions are not enough.

We’re realizing the goat problem is far from simple. Walking the fence on a regular basis is too much work. However, upgrading miles of fence in Molokai most rugged terrain is far more labor intensive.

Who will pay for the fence? Who will do the work? How will the project be organized? I look forward to more of your ideas.

The lesson of the day is, “many times, good intentions are not enough.” The five-mile fence that was put up to protect plants and stop soil erosions is not good for goats, because they are getting caught in the fence and dying. I do not agree with Editor Todd Yamashita’s idea of having a volunteer walk the fence and check for caught goats. My solution to the problem is to make the holes in the fence smaller. It’s easier than having someone walk the fence line every week, and it works out for both sides.

-Danielle Mersberg

The lesson of the day is, “many times, good intentions are not enough.” It was a good idea to put up the fence. It protects native plants, but the goats horns are getting stuck in the fence and dying. I agree with Todd Yamashita’s viewpoint, but I don’t think anybody is going to walk the fence, so we need a better solution. Let’s ask PETA to convince the Nature Conservancy to cover the bottom of the fence with a type of fence with smaller holes. This way the plants and goats are safe.

-Mikayla Tengan