The City of Trees has found a new herd of brave individuals to protect it from the ever-lengthening fire season — farm animals.
That’s right. The city’s Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment recently deployed a herd of goats + a flock of sheep to North Natomas Regional Park as part of its new grazing program, which began last fall after 1,300 animals were brought to Del Paso Regional Park to clear dead brush.
Sac officials say there are many benefits to grazing farm animals — traditional mowing can cause a large amount of dead plant material in already fire-vulnerable areas — something that isn’t an issue with the voracious hunger of sheeps + goats.
Some areas may also have debris hidden in tall grass that could cause problems for traditional fire management equipment. The animals can also get to areas where equipment simply cannot fit.
The grassy grazers can also turn the green fuel — typically various grasses or weeds — into manure, providing essential nutrients + microbes back into the earth at no extra cost to the city, farmer or rancher.
This may seem familiar to some of ewe — that’s because the bovids (cloven-hoofed mammals with horns) have been used around our area before to help reduce the risk of fire + improve sustainability.
The UC Davis Sheepmowers Grazing Project allows sheep onto the campus lawns to research the environmental benefits of their grazing + whether it can be more effective than traditional lawn mowing.
Elk Grove Public Works has a Grazing Management Program made up of 2,000 grazers that, beginning in June, clear 2-4 acres of weeds per day. They even have a map showing where the goats are currently grazing, which is adora-baaahhh-le.
Elk Grove contracts their goats from a company called Integrazers, who shepherds its flocks around Northern California to graze on lands for both fuel management + ecological restoration.
So, have no fear, Sac. The goats + sheep are here to shepherd us through fire season.
