Goats are ruminants, and like all ruminants, a percentage of goats carry E. coli O157:H7 and other shiga-toxin producing E. coli.

Especially in their poop.

And one dead child and over 100 sick from E. coli O157:H7 linked to the local fair may have people putting health at the forefront.

A small herd of goats caused plenty of problems for a North Carolina high school hoping to play a home football game on senior night.

The Shelby Star reports that nearly a dozen goats were released in the Burns High School stadium in Cleveland County Thursday night or Friday morning. School officials say the goats caused enough of a mess to force the game against Rutherfordton-Spindale Central to be moved.

The prank raised concern because of a recent outbreak of E. coli cases associated with the Cleveland County Fair west of Charlotte this month. Burns Athletic Director Eddy Taylor said health department officials came to the school and told them the game would have to be moved.