07/21/2026
California has deployed 400 goats and sheep to clear wildfire fuel.
The animals are grazing across about 180 acres in northeast Fresno as part of an eight-week habitat restoration project targeting dense brush and yellow star thistle.
Yellow star thistle is an invasive plant with sharp, spiny flowers that can crowd out native vegetation and leave behind dry fuel during California’s hottest months. Dense patches can make fires spread faster while reducing food and habitat for wildlife and pollinators.
Goats and sheep are especially useful because they will eat plants that many other animals avoid. They also consume the seed heads, helping prevent the next generation of weeds from returning.
Unlike mowing or herbicide spraying, targeted grazing can clear difficult terrain with less heavy machinery and minimal soil disturbance. The animals also leave behind manure that can return nutrients to the ground.
Once the invasive plants have been reduced, local agencies plan to restore the land with native grasses, shrubs, and trees.
The project is taking place near Woodward Park, where removing excess vegetation could help protect nearby neighborhoods, public spaces, and wildlife habitat from fast-moving fires.
Goats are already being used in communities across the western United States as a form of wildfire prevention. They cannot stop every fire, but they can reduce the amount of dry vegetation available to burn, potentially slowing flames and giving firefighters more time to respond.
Learn more:
"400+ goats, sheep being used to prevent the spread of wildfires, invasive species near Woodward Park." ABC30
