Goat Grazing: Preventing fires one bite at a time
BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — One way to keep the fire risk down on your property is by releasing goats.
Nine months out of the year, goats from We Rent Goats in Boise, are fighting fires one bite at a time.
Their job description is to eliminate fire risk on properties.
What makes them different? They're small enough to bite into areas other livestock can't.
The main goal for these goats is fire fuel abatement. They get rid of cheatgrass and any weeds that will fuel a fire.
The goats can graze a property once a year for maintenance but the range varies from feet to acres.
To paint a picture, 100 goats can graze an acre a day.
Matt Gabica, the owner of WeRentGoats, says goat grazing for fire suppression is very effective and a lot of it has to do with timing.
“There's bunch grasses and then there's solid cheat grass in between. That's how the fire spreads and so when the goats come through and get rid of all of that sort of step ladder fuels then they can't progress and you have a lot easier time to either put it out or not let it progress onto your property,” Gabica said.
Gabica says whether you use goats or plant for a fire wise community. Property owners need to have a plan to eliminate fire risk.
