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Wildfire risk -

As climate change continues to increase the risk of wildfires in many places across the globe, communities are looking for solutions that can mitigate that risk.

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Unlikely ally -

In certain areas of the US, for example, people are turning to an unlikely ally in the fight to get the risk of wildfires under control: goats.

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Key adaptations -

With iron-clad stomachs and an aptitude for climbing, goats have an unrivaled ability to chew through the dried-out vegetation that fuels wildfires.

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Added benefit -

An added benefit of their insatiable appetites is that goats can also be used to manage species of particularly invasive plants.

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Eats everything -

Indeed, goats will eat even the most unappetizing of plants, such as star thistle, that other mammals wouldn’t even go near.

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Digging deeper -

Let's dive a little deeper into exactly why goats are the best candidates for the job. What is it that gives them the edge over other animals, such as cows?

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Small and agile climbers -

First up, goats are smaller and more mobile than cattle, and they have an aptitude for climbing.

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Good reach -

Not only does this make them easier to transport and put to work in large numbers, but it also means they are able to reach high up places that other animals aren’t.

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Shinning up the fuel ladder - Vegetation that allows wildfires to climb from the ground upwards is referred to as the "fuel ladder." Goats are the only animals that can stand on their hind feet to reach and eat it all.

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Appetite and digestive system -

Another asset of goats is their strong appetites (they can eat up to 4% of their body weight per day), and even stronger digestive systems.

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Not fussy eaters -

There is hardly anything that a goat will not eat, and they will happily chow down on plant species that would be poisonous to many other animals.

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Efficiency -

This means that when it comes to getting rid of vegetation that could fuel a wildfire, goats are exceptionally efficient.

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No viable seeds -

Another key benefit of their digestive systems is that they do not pass viable seeds once they have finished digesting the plants they eat.

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Digesting seeds -

This is because they have very sharp teeth and a four-chambered stomach that the seeds must pass through before they make it out the other end.

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Invasive plant management -

The fact that they do not pass viable seeds makes goats particularly effective at dealing with invasive plant species that would otherwise regrow.

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Challenges -

Despite all of these great reasons to use goat grazing as a wildfire prevention method, there are also some challenges.

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Overgrazing -

First up is overgrazing. Many goat farmers find themselves in a constant battle with goats who get a little bit carried away with the task at hand.

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Not knowing when to stop -

If allowed, healthy goats will just keep chewing away until there is absolutely nothing left.

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Why this is a problem -

This is a serious problem, because overgrazing can lead to the erosion and compaction of plant systems, as well as a loss of nutrients.

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Inhibiting regrowth -

This can make it very difficult for future vegetation to grow, which in the case of non-invasive species is a negative outcome.

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Preventing overgrazing -

To prevent overgrazing, therefore, farmers must constantly monitor the goats’ progress, and the goats should not be left on the land any longer than needed.

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Experienced eaters -

Another challenge with goat grazing is that while goats will eat everything, they do also know what they like.

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Cherry-picking -

This means that most of the time they will cherry-pick their way through the vegetation that is on offer, prioritizing their favorite items first.

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Leaving the worst for last -

As a result, it can take them some time to start eating the plants that farmers are actually wishing to target.

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The importance of timing -

It is also important to get the timing right when using goats for invasive species management.

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Specific point in the growing process -

The goats must be released at a specific point during the plant’s growing process, to ensure that they can ingest and digest the seeds.

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Delicate issue -

Only by putting goats to work at exactly the right time can farmers ensure that unwanted plant species will not spread or regrow.

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Goat shortages -

Last but not least, we have goat shortages. Currently, there are far fewer goat-grazing businesses than would be needed to have a large-scale impact.

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Hard and skilled work -

Part of the problem is that goat grazing is very hard work, and it involves skills such as herding, raising, and keeping that can take a long time to master.

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Multi-factored approach -

Going forward, therefore, it seems likely that goat grazing will be one factor in a multi-factored approach to wildfire prevention.

Sources: (Planet Forward) (NPR)

See also: Wildfire smoke and health—all your questions answered

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