Goats are baaack preventing wildfires in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A group of goats are focused on eating their hearts out near Cathedral Oaks in Santa Barbara.

"Behind me prescribed herbivory is one technique to reduce fuels. It’s a little lighter to land as you can see," said fire marshal Fred Tan of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council hired the goats to graze in high fire zones to protect neighbors in the event of a brush fire. 

"They're here to bolster community defensible space … reduce light fuels," said Tan.

Prescribed grazing is considered a a great way to reduce fuel loads in high fire areas. 

The sheep and goats have the ability to access areas that are often difficult to treat mechanically.

"We are bordering some homes here you can see some in the background and additionally we adjacent to some homes right over here as well. Working really close to those properties to reduce that," said project manager Jessie Tobin of the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council.

Once the goats are finished grazing in Santa Barbara, they will be moving to other projects in the county. 

"We’re gonna continue onto some other project sites. I’m gonna be doing some work in Goleta and also the San Marcos foothills preserve and extending out that direction," said Tobin.

So far this year, the goats have grazed 171 acres with more on the way, so long as they maintain an appetite.

Safe council hopes brush grazing will bring awareness about wildfire risk.

And who doesn't love seeing the herds munching away?

The Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council is planning to utilize the goats and lambs to graze 855 acres in 2024.