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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGoats to the Rescue in Fire-Prone Bay Area
http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/47450
From: S.E. Smith, Care2, More from this Affiliate
Published June 3, 2014 02:47 PM
How does the saying go? Only you can prevent forest fires, or only goats can prevent forest fires? You'll understand the confusion when you meet the Bay Area's latest fire prevention crews: goats.
California is facing a forecast for what may be the worst fire season ever, thanks to drought conditions and a large buildup of tinder. Fire management professionals are working ahead of time to try to clear brush, high grass and other fire hazards, in the hopes of reducing the spread of the inevitable wildfires that are already streaking across the state.
When it comes to brush clearance crews, it can be tough to find someone willing to do the job. It's backbreaking labor conducted in the hot sun, and it takes hours to make a dent in overgrown shrubs and brush, which are often filled with tangles of thorns and other unpleasant surprises. Brush clearance can get extremely expensive, and it requires constant maintenance.
That's one reason why people have been turning to rental goats to clear brush and keep areas like road verges, medians and hillsides trimmed. Farmers maintain herds who can be rented out for a reasonable fee to come by for a day, a week, or even longer to clear an area and maintain it. Goats can tackle not just weeds and grass, but also small trees and woody shrubs, and they eat pretty much indiscriminately, clearing an area evenly as well.
FULL story at link.
Warpy
(111,255 posts)Here, they've been used to remove invasive species from along the Rio Grande, mostly salt cedar and Russian olive. Since those trees suck more water than the native cottonwood and poplar, the goats prefer them. There are also fewer fires where the goats have been through recently.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)WAY more intelligent than cows.
Brother Buzz
(36,423 posts)Everyone kinda laughed at first. He started with just a few a couple of decades ago, and now has three thousand of the ravenous creatures with wicked eyes. He's got a lock on the East Bay regional parks, and the Sacramento river levees.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)those horizontal pupils are so neat .
Brother Buzz
(36,423 posts)But maybe that's just me.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)They are fun to be around, too . They are so playful!
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)They go places that not everyone can go. We need more of this in Ca. The whole state needs trimming.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Don't ask.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)they are quirky animals, but are quite intelligent.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)I guess it's true.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)if you malign the kids
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Mint jelly.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)to get gruff like that .
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)You'll just take it on the chin?
Aerows
(39,961 posts)I usually just hoof it.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)I guess we all need to goat to extremes .
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)It's how I get my kicks.
I concede de feta, SW, you rock .
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Tap tap, tap tap, tap tap...