Media report on campus goat visit to relieve stress during finals
The Associated Press, Bangor Daily News, WABI (Channel 5) and WMTW (Channel 8 in Portland) reported on a recent visit by a herd of goats to the University of Maine campus. The goats were brought to campus to help students through the stress of finals, according to the AP. Students lined up to feed and pet the goats. “Goats are so popular. They are viral. They’re everywhere all over the internet,” Brittney Smith, assistant director of student activities at UMaine, told WABI. “Mental health is obviously a huge topic on college campuses right now and so, we just think it’s really important to have outlets for students to just enjoy, and we know that animals are the key to that.” Abby Skolfield, who owns the goats, said people are naturally drawn to the animals. “Goats are a very charming animal. They are mischievous. They are fun. They’re more like a dog than probably any other livestock, like sheep or pigs,” she told WABI. “They are very intelligent, and you can’t help but smile when you watch them play.” New York Post, U.S. News & World Report, Fox News, Maine Public and Minnesota’s Star Tribune carried the AP report.