diff --git a/data/json/monsters/monster_goals.json b/data/json/monsters/monster_goals.json
index 43a5d05be11b8..b0f5131ce79ab 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 +20,22 @@
   },
   {
     "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",
+    "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 6e92e79ba5887..0bc65ac9d08e2 100644
--- a/src/behavior.cpp
+++ b/src/behavior.cpp
@@ -85,6 +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
 {
diff --git a/src/behavior_oracle.cpp b/src/behavior_oracle.cpp
index 36be3830b5cbf..6b76724aeba8a 100644
--- a/src/behavior_oracle.cpp
+++ b/src/behavior_oracle.cpp
@@ -39,10 +39,10 @@ predicate_map = {{
         { "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", make_function( &monster_oracle_t::has_special ) },
         { "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_adjacent_plants", make_function( &monster_oracle_t::adjacent_plants ) },
+        { "monster_special_available", make_function( &monster_oracle_t::special_available ) }
     }
 };
 
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 f9f60fffa780f..b7a0592da151e 100644
--- a/src/monattack.cpp
+++ b/src/monattack.cpp
@@ -301,13 +301,19 @@ 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 25df312439527..989f3ea5a6fe4 100644
--- a/src/monmove.cpp
+++ b/src/monmove.cpp
@@ -662,6 +662,15 @@ 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 cece4410620d0..46ac81a43c558 100644
--- a/src/monster.cpp
+++ b/src/monster.cpp
@@ -2032,17 +2032,11 @@ 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 406d68431c723..75d7d6cae3529 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 89ea43ae1b463..a6e9e4ec4a8a9 100644
--- a/src/monster_oracle.cpp
+++ b/src/monster_oracle.cpp
@@ -3,20 +3,13 @@
 #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 std::string & ) const
-{
-    if( subject->shortest_special_cooldown() == 0 ) {
-        return running;
-    }
-    return failure;
-}
-
 status_t monster_oracle_t::not_hallucination( const std::string & ) const
 {
     return subject->is_hallucination() ? failure : running;
@@ -33,7 +26,7 @@ status_t monster_oracle_t::items_available( const std::string & ) const
 // TODO: Have it select a target and stash it somewhere.
 status_t monster_oracle_t::adjacent_plants( const std::string & ) const
 {
-    for( const auto &p : g->m.points_in_radius( subject->pos(), 1 ) ) {
+    for( const tripoint &p : g->m.points_in_radius( subject->pos(), 1 ) ) {
         if( g->m.has_flag( "PLANT", p ) ) {
             return running;
         }
@@ -41,4 +34,9 @@ status_t monster_oracle_t::adjacent_plants( const std::string & ) const
     return failure;
 }
 
+status_t monster_oracle_t::special_available( const std::string &special_name ) const
+{
+    return subject->special_available( special_name ) ? running : failure;
+}
+
 } // namespace behavior
diff --git a/src/monster_oracle.h b/src/monster_oracle.h
index 015bbe7b7a52e..dfdc8e5d13cdd 100644
--- a/src/monster_oracle.h
+++ b/src/monster_oracle.h
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ class monster_oracle_t : public oracle_t
         /**
          * Predicates used by AI to determine goals.
          */
-        status_t has_special( const std::string & ) 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 bddd553a75af6..a4d6a1d13ec02 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 d83dcd954e71f..c9a4add717dc8 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"
@@ -183,18 +185,27 @@ TEST_CASE( "check_npc_behavior_tree", "[npc][behavior][!mayfail]" )
 
 TEST_CASE( "check_monster_behavior_tree", "[monster][behavior]" )
 {
+    const tripoint monster_location( 5, 5, 0 );
+    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" );
     }
 }