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Escaped goats line the shoulder of Alpine Road near the southbound Highway 280 on ramp on the evening of July 17, 2024. Courtesy Helen Wolter. 
A herd of escaped goats caused a traffic jam on Alpine Road on the evening of July 17, 2024. Courtesy Helen Wolter. 
A herd of escaped goats caused a traffic jam on Alpine Road on the evening of July 17, 2024. Courtesy Helen Wolter.
Portola Valley residents faced an unusual kind of traffic jam on Wednesday evening. Cars at the intersection of Alpine Road and Highway 280 slowed to a standstill as the road was taken over by a very large herd of escaped goats.
“At first I thought it was an accident,” said Portola Valley resident Helen Wolter, who encountered the roving pack of goats as she drove along Alpine Road. “But then I realized that there were goats galore!”
Dozens of goats lined the hillsides and median along Alpine Road as they munched on grass, occasionally venturing into the road. Some goats even made their way onto the 280 on ramp, but did not wander onto the highway itself.
“The lovely thing was, everyone just stopped,” said Wolter. “In the middle of hectic Silicon Valley, everyone slowed down to a stop and enjoyed the goat jam. For a moment, we were reminded of our agricultural heritage.”
Atlee Frechette, farm manager at Webb Ranch confirmed that the goats did not come from Webb. It is not yet known from where the goats escaped, but Wolter says that they were eventually rounded up and returned.
“Eventually the herder chased the goats off the road and traffic carried on,” she said.
Sophie Lu, a public information officer for the California Highway Patrol, confirmed that the agency did respond to calls about the escaped goats. However, by the time officers arrived on scene, the goats had already been rounded up.
That looks nuts! Great images.