California authorities have enlisted approximately 400 goats and sheep to graze on invasive vegetation as part of a wildfire prevention effort.
The animals are clearing roughly 180 acres in northeast Fresno during an eight-week habitat restoration initiative focused on dense brush and yellow star thistle.
Yellow star thistle, an invasive species, features sharp, spiny blooms that displace native plants and create abundant dry fuel during the state's peak fire season. Thick infestations accelerate fire spread, diminish forage for wildlife, and limit habitat for pollinators.
Goats and sheep prove particularly effective because they readily consume plants that other grazers typically avoid. They also target seed heads, which helps curb future weed growth.
Compared to mechanical mowing or chemical herbicides, this targeted grazing approach navigates challenging terrain more easily, requires less heavy equipment, and causes minimal soil disruption. The animals naturally fertilize the ground with their manure, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Following the reduction of invasive species, officials intend to replant the area with native grasses, shrubs, and trees.
The initiative is underway near Woodward Park, where vegetation management could safeguard surrounding neighborhoods, recreational areas, and wildlife habitats from rapid wildfire spread.
