In fire prevention, goats with big appetites are front-line workers
A 10-acre wildfire fueled by dry vegetation and strong winds was racing toward a condominium complex in West Sacramento, Calif., last month when the flames suddenly slowed and fizzled, sparing the buildings.
In the moment, it seemed like an act of divine intervention. In reality, it was the result of 400 hungry goats that had eaten the hard-toreach underbrush surrounding a neighborhood of more than 250 homes, helping to stop the blaze.
“Goats are really hard workers — They’ll eat anything down to 4 inches,” said Paul Hosley, a spokesman for the city of West Sacramento, recalling the fire on May 20.
The goats hired by the city had weeks earlier munched their way through about 2 acres a day, causing a firebreak or open space that’s been cleared of vegetation so flames don’t spread.
“It almost looks like a moonscape after they go through,” he said. “They’re good for the environment, and everyone around here loves them.”
West Sacramento has used goat herds since 2014 to clear out tall weeds and lowhanging vegetation as a fire prevention measure, taking a page from other places around the world that use the environmentally friendly and adorable approach to weeding.
With another hot season of wildfires forecast this summer for the West and Southwest, more homeowners and municipalities are turning to goats to quickly clear out dry grass and leaves that can fuel fires.
“They can get into places where mowers can’t go, they eat all day without complaining and the fertilizer is free of charge,” said Mr. Hosley, noting that West Sacramento paid $150,000 this season to hire a floppy-eared herd from Western Grazers.
The goats made two runs to eat underbrush around the city in March and May, he said.
“They’re amazing — They’ll eat anything,” Mr. Hosley said. “Prickly foxtails, poisonous weeds, tall grass, even the leaves of trees. They’ll stand on their hind legs to reach them.”
West Sacramento residents turn out each year to see the goats on the run through town as the curious, bleating animals head to their new browsing assignments, he said.
More than a dozen states, including Nevada, Oregon and New Mexico regularly use goats for fire management, but they’ve also become a popular method around the country to remove invasive plant species.
In New York City, the Riverside Park Conservancy relies on goats as natural weed eaters to control unwanted plants such as English ivy and mugwort.
For the third year, a small herd of goats will be brought in from a farm in Rhinebeck, N.Y., to dine on an endless green buffet all summer long, said John Herrold, interim president and chief executive of Riverside Park Conservancy.
The goats love the sweet taste of the park’s poison ivy, he said.
“We’re thrilled to have the goats’ help again,” said Mr. Herrold. “Everyone benefits from their presence. The goats get to enjoy the park’s weeds, the park’s natural environment is improved, and New Yorkers get to see goats in their local park.”
In Maryland, Mary Bowen has rented out her herd of 75 Browsing Green Goats to municipalities, the National Park Service and private homeowners since 2010 to clear out invasive plants without using herbicides.
“People are looking for more natural alternatives, so they’re turning to goats,” said Ms. Bowen, 57, who has goats and a farm in Calvert County in Sunderland, Md. “They don’t uproot anything or disturb the soil.”