Voracious animals that they are, goats are a good illustration of why it is imperative to 'fence' the commons.

This morning, Radio 4's Today programme announced that a group of environmental campaigners - called "Friends of the Goats" - are outraged that a flock of goats in Devon may be culled because they are devastating the local environment - including people's gardens.

Apparently the goats are not paying their way - as 'thousands' of people come to the Valley of the Rocks to see the wild goats. The council rejected financing to fence the area where the goats roam (e.g. to build a fence or erect a cattle grid).

(An earlier post discussed goats in Africa )