SIMI VALLEY, California – JUNE 15: A goat, part of a herd of hundreds, grazes in fire-prone brush on a hillside next to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library as part of Ventura County’s wildfire prevention efforts on June 15, 2023 in Simi Valley, California. This environmentally friendly tactic reduces the chance of wildfires starting as goats consume fuel-dry grass and brush, along with non-native plants, in fire-prone areas. The growth of flammable vegetation has been fueled in Southern California this year by the parade of atmospheric river storms that drenched the region with rain from December to March. (Photo by Mario Tama//Keynote USA/Getty Images)
(FOX40.COM) — Summer is when goats are released onto California grasslands to help minimize the risk of wildfires.
In May 2024, Placer County deployed 2,000 goats to Dry Creek Community Park in the western part of the county to graze potentially hazardous fire fuels such as weeds, invasive plant species and tree branches.
Other communities in the Sacramento region, such as West Sacramento, Elk Grove and the city of Sacramento, have used goats as a method to minimize wildfire risk.
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Why do local governments use goats?
The use of goats for fire mitigation has become increasingly popular over the years among local governments due to their ability to clear dense vegetation in hard-to-reach areas, according to Placer County.
“By removing this flammable vegetation, they help create natural firebreaks and reduce the risk of wildfires spreading to nearby communities,” Placer County officials said in a statement.
Many municipal governments employ contractors who work with herds 24 hours a day during the grazing period.
According to the city of Lincoln, grazing could begin in January and end by the end of June. Weather conditions also determine when the grazing period begins and ends each year.
Lincoln officials consider grazing an effective way to improve the health of the city’s open spaces.
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In May 2023, the city of Elk Grove used its grazing program that sent more than 7,000 goats and sheep to reduce fire danger in areas with heavy brush, which grew after a series of strong winter storms in Northern California .
According to Elk Grove officials, the use of animals such as goats and/or sheep reduces the need for manual removal or mechanical means.
Livestock not only reduce fire risk, they also reduce soil erosion, improve air and water quality and have less impact on fish and wildlife habitats, officials said.
Lincoln officials said grazing has environmental benefits that are:
•Controls invasive species
•Reduces forest fire fuels
•Maintains the diversity of native plants and animals.
•Reduces the accumulation of dead matter (straw)
Goats for flood prevention
Not only are goats used for wildfire prevention, but local governments use them to help reduce the threat of flooding.
In June, the Sacramento County Department of Water Resources removed goats to mitigate flood risk months before rains returned.
The flood prevention approach comes after consecutive winters in the Sacramento region were battered by atmospheric rivers.
The way goats will reduce flood threats in flood-prone areas by clearing several streams and detention basins of tall grasses and weeds.
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