diff --git a/data/json/monsters/monster_goals.json b/data/json/monsters/monster_goals.json
index 43a5d05be11b8..b33e8334559f7 100644
--- a/data/json/monsters/monster_goals.json
+++ b/data/json/monsters/monster_goals.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     "type": "behavior",
     "id": "monster_goals",
     "strategy": "sequential_until_done",
-    "children": [ "absorb_items", "monster_special" ]
+    "children": [ "absorb_items" ]
   },
   {
     "type": "behavior",
@@ -20,8 +20,23 @@
   },
   {
     "type": "behavior",
-    "id": "monster_special",
-    "predicate": "monster_has_special",
-    "goal": "do_special"
+    "id": "EAT_CROP",
+    "strategy": "sequential",
+    "predicate": "monster_not_hallucination",
+    "children": [ "ready_to_eat_crop" ]
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "behavior",
+    "id": "ready_to_eat_crop",
+    "predicate": "monster_special_available",
+    "predicate_argument": "EAT_CROP",
+    "strategy": "sequential",
+    "children": [ "do_eat_crop" ]
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "behavior",
+    "id": "do_eat_crop",
+    "predicate": "monster_adjacent_plants",
+    "goal": "EAT_CROP"
   }
 ]
diff --git a/src/behavior.cpp b/src/behavior.cpp
index f124a9cc81550..0bc65ac9d08e2 100644
--- a/src/behavior.cpp
+++ b/src/behavior.cpp
@@ -18,9 +18,11 @@ void node_t::set_strategy( const strategy_t *new_strategy )
 {
     strategy = new_strategy;
 }
-void node_t::set_predicate( std::function<status_t ( const oracle_t * )> new_predicate )
+void node_t::set_predicate( std::function<status_t ( const oracle_t *, const std::string & )>
+                            new_predicate, const std::string &argument )
 {
     predicate = new_predicate;
+    predicate_argument = argument;
 }
 void node_t::set_goal( const std::string &new_goal )
 {
@@ -35,10 +37,10 @@ behavior_return node_t::tick( const oracle_t *subject ) const
 {
     assert( predicate );
     if( children.empty() ) {
-        return { predicate( subject ), this };
+        return { predicate( subject, predicate_argument ), this };
     } else {
         assert( strategy != nullptr );
-        status_t result = predicate( subject );
+        status_t result = predicate( subject, predicate_argument );
         if( result == running ) {
             return strategy->evaluate( subject, children );
         } else {
@@ -83,6 +85,13 @@ generic_factory<behavior::node_t> behavior_factory( "behavior" );
 std::list<node_data> temp_node_data;
 } // namespace
 
+/** @relates string_id */
+template<>
+bool string_id<node_t>::is_valid() const
+{
+    return behavior_factory.is_valid( *this );
+}
+
 template<>
 const node_t &string_id<node_t>::obj() const
 {
@@ -127,7 +136,10 @@ void node_t::load( const JsonObject &jo, const std::string & )
         } else {
             debugmsg( "While loading %s, failed to find predicate %s.",
                       id.str(), jo.get_string( "predicate" ) );
-            jo.throw_error( "Invalid strategy in behavior." );
+            jo.throw_error( "Invalid predicate in behavior." );
+        }
+        if( jo.has_string( "predicate_argument" ) ) {
+            predicate_argument = jo.get_string( "predicate_argument" );
         }
     }
     optional( jo, was_loaded, "goal", _goal );
diff --git a/src/behavior.h b/src/behavior.h
index d6aa2f460ce61..d37ccb5441ec5 100644
--- a/src/behavior.h
+++ b/src/behavior.h
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ class node_t
 
         // Interface to construct a node.
         void set_strategy( const strategy_t *new_strategy );
-        void set_predicate( std::function < status_t ( const oracle_t * )> new_predicate );
+        void set_predicate( std::function < status_t ( const oracle_t *, const std::string & )>
+                            new_predicate, const std::string &argument = "" );
         void set_goal( const std::string &new_goal );
         void add_child( const node_t *new_child );
 
@@ -73,8 +74,9 @@ class node_t
         bool was_loaded = false;
     private:
         std::vector<const node_t *> children;
-        const strategy_t *strategy;
-        std::function<status_t( const oracle_t * )> predicate;
+        const strategy_t *strategy = nullptr;
+        std::function<status_t( const oracle_t *, const std::string & )> predicate;
+        std::string predicate_argument;
         // TODO: make into an ID?
         std::string _goal;
 };
diff --git a/src/behavior_oracle.cpp b/src/behavior_oracle.cpp
index 297e8d93e74f7..6b76724aeba8a 100644
--- a/src/behavior_oracle.cpp
+++ b/src/behavior_oracle.cpp
@@ -11,19 +11,26 @@
 namespace behavior
 {
 
-status_t return_running( const oracle_t * )
+status_t return_running( const oracle_t *, const std::string & )
 {
     return running;
 }
 
 // Just a little helper to make populating predicate_map slightly less gross.
-static std::function < status_t( const oracle_t * ) >
-make_function( status_t ( character_oracle_t::* fun )() const )
+static std::function < status_t( const oracle_t *, const std::string & ) >
+make_function( status_t ( character_oracle_t::* fun )( const std::string & ) const )
 {
-    return static_cast<status_t ( oracle_t::* )() const>( fun );
+    return static_cast<status_t ( oracle_t::* )( const std::string & ) const>( fun );
 }
 
-std::unordered_map<std::string, std::function<status_t( const oracle_t * )>> predicate_map = {{
+static std::function < status_t( const oracle_t *, const std::string & ) >
+make_function( status_t ( monster_oracle_t::* fun )( const std::string & ) const )
+{
+    return static_cast<status_t ( oracle_t::* )( const std::string & ) const>( fun );
+}
+
+std::unordered_map<std::string, std::function<status_t( const oracle_t *, const std::string & ) >>
+predicate_map = {{
         { "npc_needs_warmth_badly", make_function( &character_oracle_t::needs_warmth_badly ) },
         { "npc_needs_water_badly", make_function( &character_oracle_t::needs_water_badly ) },
         { "npc_needs_food_badly", make_function( &character_oracle_t::needs_food_badly ) },
@@ -32,9 +39,10 @@ std::unordered_map<std::string, std::function<status_t( const oracle_t * )>> pre
         { "npc_can_take_shelter", make_function( &character_oracle_t::can_take_shelter ) },
         { "npc_has_water", make_function( &character_oracle_t::has_water ) },
         { "npc_has_food", make_function( &character_oracle_t::has_food ) },
-        { "monster_has_special", static_cast<status_t ( oracle_t::* )() const>( &monster_oracle_t::has_special ) },
-        { "monster_not_hallucination", static_cast<status_t ( oracle_t::* )() const>( &monster_oracle_t::not_hallucination ) },
-        { "monster_items_available", static_cast<status_t ( oracle_t::* )() const>( &monster_oracle_t::items_available ) }
+        { "monster_not_hallucination", make_function( &monster_oracle_t::not_hallucination ) },
+        { "monster_items_available", make_function( &monster_oracle_t::items_available ) },
+        { "monster_adjacent_plants", make_function( &monster_oracle_t::adjacent_plants ) },
+        { "monster_special_available", make_function( &monster_oracle_t::special_available ) }
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/src/behavior_oracle.h b/src/behavior_oracle.h
index 79171642bb53a..82c1c454c4eef 100644
--- a/src/behavior_oracle.h
+++ b/src/behavior_oracle.h
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ class oracle_t
 {
 };
 
-status_t return_running( const oracle_t * );
+status_t return_running( const oracle_t *, const std::string & );
 
-extern std::unordered_map<std::string, std::function<status_t( const oracle_t * )>> predicate_map;
+extern std::unordered_map<std::string, std::function<status_t( const oracle_t *, const std::string & )>>
+        predicate_map;
 
 } // namespace behavior
 #endif // CATA_SRC_BEHAVIOR_ORACLE_H
diff --git a/src/character_oracle.cpp b/src/character_oracle.cpp
index aece481d2d430..5eabf56372602 100644
--- a/src/character_oracle.cpp
+++ b/src/character_oracle.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ namespace behavior
 // To avoid a local minima when the character has access to warmth in a shelter but gets cold
 // when they go outside, this method needs to only alert when travel time to known shelter
 // approaches time to freeze.
-status_t character_oracle_t::needs_warmth_badly() const
+status_t character_oracle_t::needs_warmth_badly( const std::string & ) const
 {
     const player *p = dynamic_cast<const player *>( subject );
     // Use player::temp_conv to predict whether the Character is "in trouble".
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ status_t character_oracle_t::needs_warmth_badly() const
     return success;
 }
 
-status_t character_oracle_t::needs_water_badly() const
+status_t character_oracle_t::needs_water_badly( const std::string & ) const
 {
     // Check thirst threshold.
     if( subject->get_thirst() > 520 ) {
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ status_t character_oracle_t::needs_water_badly() const
     return success;
 }
 
-status_t character_oracle_t::needs_food_badly() const
+status_t character_oracle_t::needs_food_badly( const std::string & ) const
 {
     // Check hunger threshold.
     if( subject->get_hunger() >= 300 && subject->get_starvation() > 2500 ) {
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ status_t character_oracle_t::needs_food_badly() const
     return success;
 }
 
-status_t character_oracle_t::can_wear_warmer_clothes() const
+status_t character_oracle_t::can_wear_warmer_clothes( const std::string & ) const
 {
     const player *p = dynamic_cast<const player *>( subject );
     // Check inventory for wearable warmer clothes, greedily.
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ status_t character_oracle_t::can_wear_warmer_clothes() const
     return failure;
 }
 
-status_t character_oracle_t::can_make_fire() const
+status_t character_oracle_t::can_make_fire( const std::string & ) const
 {
     // Check inventory for firemaking tools and fuel
     bool tool = false;
@@ -88,14 +88,14 @@ status_t character_oracle_t::can_make_fire() const
     return success;
 }
 
-status_t character_oracle_t::can_take_shelter() const
+status_t character_oracle_t::can_take_shelter( const std::string & ) const
 {
     // See if we know about some shelter
     // Don't know how yet.
     return failure;
 }
 
-status_t character_oracle_t::has_water() const
+status_t character_oracle_t::has_water( const std::string & ) const
 {
     // Check if we know about water somewhere
     bool found_water = subject->inv.has_item_with( []( const item & cand ) {
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ status_t character_oracle_t::has_water() const
     return found_water ? running : failure;
 }
 
-status_t character_oracle_t::has_food() const
+status_t character_oracle_t::has_food( const std::string & ) const
 {
     // Check if we know about food somewhere
     bool found_food = subject->inv.has_item_with( []( const item & cand ) {
diff --git a/src/character_oracle.h b/src/character_oracle.h
index 01781694f20a7..1353b4fd388b1 100644
--- a/src/character_oracle.h
+++ b/src/character_oracle.h
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 #ifndef CATA_SRC_CHARACTER_ORACLE_H
 #define CATA_SRC_CHARACTER_ORACLE_H
 
+#include <string>
+
 #include "behavior_oracle.h"
 
 class Character;
@@ -18,14 +20,14 @@ class character_oracle_t : public oracle_t
         /**
          * Predicates used by AI to determine goals.
          */
-        status_t needs_warmth_badly() const;
-        status_t needs_water_badly() const;
-        status_t needs_food_badly() const;
-        status_t can_wear_warmer_clothes() const;
-        status_t can_make_fire() const;
-        status_t can_take_shelter() const;
-        status_t has_water() const;
-        status_t has_food() const;
+        status_t needs_warmth_badly( const std::string & ) const;
+        status_t needs_water_badly( const std::string & ) const;
+        status_t needs_food_badly( const std::string & ) const;
+        status_t can_wear_warmer_clothes( const std::string & ) const;
+        status_t can_make_fire( const std::string & ) const;
+        status_t can_take_shelter( const std::string & ) const;
+        status_t has_water( const std::string & ) const;
+        status_t has_food( const std::string & ) const;
     private:
         const Character *subject;
 };
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 8c7f2f54d6852..b5a4bb38188e2 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -593,6 +593,7 @@ void DynamicDataLoader::finalize_loaded_data( loading_ui &ui )
             { _( "Start locations" ), &start_locations::finalize_all },
             { _( "Vehicle prototypes" ), &vehicle_prototype::finalize },
             { _( "Mapgen weights" ), &calculate_mapgen_weights },
+            { _( "Behaviors" ), &behavior::finalize },
             {
                 _( "Monster types" ), []()
                 {
@@ -608,7 +609,6 @@ void DynamicDataLoader::finalize_loaded_data( loading_ui &ui )
             { _( "Martial arts" ), &finialize_martial_arts },
             { _( "NPC classes" ), &npc_class::finalize_all },
             { _( "Missions" ), &mission_type::finalize },
-            { _( "Behaviors" ), &behavior::finalize },
             { _( "Harvest lists" ), &harvest_list::finalize_all },
             { _( "Anatomies" ), &anatomy::finalize_all },
             { _( "Mutations" ), &mutation_branch::finalize },
diff --git a/src/monattack.cpp b/src/monattack.cpp
index c066478c7c981..a9b71e84f5294 100644
--- a/src/monattack.cpp
+++ b/src/monattack.cpp
@@ -323,13 +323,19 @@ bool mattack::none( monster * )
 
 bool mattack::eat_crop( monster *z )
 {
+    cata::optional<tripoint> target;
+    int num_targets = 1;
     for( const auto &p : g->m.points_in_radius( z->pos(), 1 ) ) {
-        if( g->m.has_flag( "PLANT", p ) && one_in( 4 ) ) {
-            g->m.furn_set( p, furn_str_id( g->m.furn( p )->plant->base ) );
-            g->m.i_clear( p );
-            return true;
+        if( g->m.has_flag( "PLANT", p ) && one_in( num_targets ) ) {
+            num_targets++;
+            target = p;
         }
     }
+    if( target ) {
+        g->m.furn_set( *target, furn_str_id( g->m.furn( *target )->plant->base ) );
+        g->m.i_clear( *target );
+        return true;
+    }
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/monmove.cpp b/src/monmove.cpp
index 9e45b6267907d..3838c687e8bac 100644
--- a/src/monmove.cpp
+++ b/src/monmove.cpp
@@ -664,6 +664,15 @@ void monster::move()
             }
         }
         g->m.i_clear( pos() );
+    } else if( action == "eat_crop" ) {
+        // TODO: Create a special attacks whitelist unordered map instead of an if chain.
+        std::map<std::string, mtype_special_attack>::const_iterator attack =
+            type->special_attacks.find( action );
+        if( attack != type->special_attacks.end() && attack->second->call( *this ) ) {
+            if( special_attacks.count( action ) != 0 ) {
+                reset_special( action );
+            }
+        }
     }
     // record position before moving to put the player there if we're dragging
     tripoint drag_to = g->m.getabs( pos() );
diff --git a/src/monster.cpp b/src/monster.cpp
index 1ef479bd10c6e..8fc355626f0ec 100644
--- a/src/monster.cpp
+++ b/src/monster.cpp
@@ -2036,17 +2036,11 @@ void monster::disable_special( const std::string &special_name )
     special_attacks.at( special_name ).enabled = false;
 }
 
-int monster::shortest_special_cooldown() const
+bool monster::special_available( const std::string &special_name ) const
 {
-    int countdown = std::numeric_limits<int>::max();
-    for( const std::pair<const std::string, mon_special_attack> &sp_type : special_attacks ) {
-        const mon_special_attack &local_attack_data = sp_type.second;
-        if( !local_attack_data.enabled ) {
-            continue;
-        }
-        countdown = std::min( countdown, local_attack_data.cooldown );
-    }
-    return countdown;
+    std::map<std::string, mon_special_attack>::const_iterator iter = special_attacks.find(
+                special_name );
+    return iter != special_attacks.end() && iter->second.enabled && iter->second.cooldown == 0;
 }
 
 void monster::normalize_ammo( const int old_ammo )
diff --git a/src/monster.h b/src/monster.h
index 1ee92bbb9822c..1698e54544d83 100644
--- a/src/monster.h
+++ b/src/monster.h
@@ -392,8 +392,8 @@ class monster : public Creature
         void set_special( const std::string &special_name, int time );
         /** Sets the enabled flag for the given special to false */
         void disable_special( const std::string &special_name );
-        /** Return the lowest cooldown for an enabled special */
-        int shortest_special_cooldown() const;
+        /** Test whether the specified special is ready. */
+        bool special_available( const std::string &special_name ) const;
 
         void process_turn() override;
         /** Resets the value of all bonus fields to 0, clears special effect flags. */
diff --git a/src/monster_oracle.cpp b/src/monster_oracle.cpp
index 88ba91621bb38..a6e9e4ec4a8a9 100644
--- a/src/monster_oracle.cpp
+++ b/src/monster_oracle.cpp
@@ -3,31 +3,40 @@
 #include "behavior.h"
 #include "game.h"
 #include "map.h"
+#include "map_iterator.h"
 #include "monster.h"
 #include "monster_oracle.h"
 
 namespace behavior
 {
 
-status_t monster_oracle_t::has_special() const
+status_t monster_oracle_t::not_hallucination( const std::string & ) const
 {
-    if( subject->shortest_special_cooldown() == 0 ) {
+    return subject->is_hallucination() ? failure : running;
+}
+
+status_t monster_oracle_t::items_available( const std::string & ) const
+{
+    if( !g->m.has_flag( TFLAG_SEALED, subject->pos() ) && g->m.has_items( subject->pos() ) ) {
         return running;
     }
     return failure;
 }
 
-status_t monster_oracle_t::not_hallucination() const
+// TODO: Have it select a target and stash it somewhere.
+status_t monster_oracle_t::adjacent_plants( const std::string & ) const
 {
-    return subject->is_hallucination() ? failure : running;
+    for( const tripoint &p : g->m.points_in_radius( subject->pos(), 1 ) ) {
+        if( g->m.has_flag( "PLANT", p ) ) {
+            return running;
+        }
+    }
+    return failure;
 }
 
-status_t monster_oracle_t::items_available() const
+status_t monster_oracle_t::special_available( const std::string &special_name ) const
 {
-    if( !g->m.has_flag( TFLAG_SEALED, subject->pos() ) && g->m.has_items( subject->pos() ) ) {
-        return running;
-    }
-    return failure;
+    return subject->special_available( special_name ) ? running : failure;
 }
 
 } // namespace behavior
diff --git a/src/monster_oracle.h b/src/monster_oracle.h
index d4452d49e8205..dfdc8e5d13cdd 100644
--- a/src/monster_oracle.h
+++ b/src/monster_oracle.h
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 #ifndef CATA_SRC_MONSTER_ORACLE_H
 #define CATA_SRC_MONSTER_ORACLE_H
 
+#include <string>
+
 #include "behavior_oracle.h"
 
 class monster;
@@ -18,9 +20,10 @@ class monster_oracle_t : public oracle_t
         /**
          * Predicates used by AI to determine goals.
          */
-        status_t has_special() const;
-        status_t not_hallucination() const;
-        status_t items_available() const;
+        status_t not_hallucination( const std::string & ) const;
+        status_t items_available( const std::string & ) const;
+        status_t adjacent_plants( const std::string & ) const;
+        status_t special_available( const std::string &special_name ) const;
     private:
         const monster *subject;
 };
diff --git a/src/monstergenerator.cpp b/src/monstergenerator.cpp
index eeff00b4ce5b1..b62ef0b548ef6 100644
--- a/src/monstergenerator.cpp
+++ b/src/monstergenerator.cpp
@@ -339,6 +339,11 @@ static void build_behavior_tree( mtype &type )
     if( type.has_flag( MF_ABSORBS ) || type.has_flag( MF_ABSORBS_SPLITS ) ) {
         type.add_goal( "absorb_items" );
     }
+    for( const std::pair<const std::string, mtype_special_attack> &attack : type.special_attacks ) {
+        if( string_id<behavior::node_t>( attack.first ).is_valid() ) {
+            type.add_goal( attack.first );
+        } /* TODO: Make this an error once all the special attacks are migrated. */
+    }
 }
 
 void MonsterGenerator::finalize_mtypes()
diff --git a/tests/behavior_test.cpp b/tests/behavior_test.cpp
index 1290ebd2fa3a5..ea702fe150e83 100644
--- a/tests/behavior_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/behavior_test.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 #include "game.h"
 #include "item.h"
 #include "item_location.h"
+#include "map.h"
+#include "map_iterator.h"
 #include "monster_oracle.h"
 #include "mtype.h"
 #include "npc.h"
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ static behavior::node_t make_test_node( std::string goal, const behavior::status
     if( !goal.empty() ) {
         node.set_goal( goal );
     }
-    node.set_predicate( [status]( const behavior::oracle_t * ) {
+    node.set_predicate( [status]( const behavior::oracle_t *, const std::string & ) {
         return *status;
     } );
     return node;
@@ -183,18 +185,28 @@ TEST_CASE( "check_npc_behavior_tree", "[npc][behavior][!mayfail]" )
 
 TEST_CASE( "check_monster_behavior_tree", "[monster][behavior]" )
 {
+    const tripoint monster_location( 5, 5, 0 );
+    clear_map();
+    monster &test_monster = spawn_test_monster( "mon_locust", monster_location );
+
+    behavior::monster_oracle_t oracle( &test_monster );
     behavior::tree monster_goals;
-    monster_goals.add( &string_id<behavior::node_t>( "monster_special" ).obj() );
-    monster &test_monster = spawn_test_monster( "mon_zombie", { 5, 5, 0 } );
+    monster_goals.add( test_monster.type->get_goals() );
+
     for( const std::string &special_name : test_monster.type->special_attacks_names ) {
         test_monster.reset_special( special_name );
     }
-    behavior::monster_oracle_t oracle( &test_monster );
     CHECK( monster_goals.tick( &oracle ) == "idle" );
+    for( const tripoint &near : g->m.points_in_radius( monster_location, 1 ) ) {
+        g->m.ter_set( near, ter_id( "t_grass" ) );
+        g->m.furn_set( near, furn_id( "f_null" ) );
+    }
     SECTION( "Special Attack" ) {
-        test_monster.set_special( "bite", 0 );
-        CHECK( monster_goals.tick( &oracle ) == "do_special" );
-        test_monster.set_special( "bite", 1 );
+        test_monster.set_special( "EAT_CROP", 0 );
+        CHECK( monster_goals.tick( &oracle ) == "idle" );
+        g->m.furn_set( monster_location, furn_id( "f_plant_seedling" ) );
+        CHECK( monster_goals.tick( &oracle ) == "EAT_CROP" );
+        test_monster.set_special( "EAT_CROP", 1 );
         CHECK( monster_goals.tick( &oracle ) == "idle" );
     }
 }