California Town Launches ‘Goat Fund Me’ to Prevent Wildfires

Some 200 goats can munch on an acre of overgrown brush daily

 

 

NEVADA CITY, Calif. (AP) — The threat of catastrophic wildfires has driven a California town to launch a “Goat Fund Me” campaign to bring herds of goats to city-owned land to help clear brush.

Nevada City in the Sierra Nevada began the online crowdsourcing campaign last month with the goal of raising $30,000 for the project.

The campaign’s website explains that because it takes time to secure grant funding, the town needs money now to hire goat ranchers because they’re only available this winter.

Wildland Firefighter: Eating Away a Threat

See also  Wildfire North of Grand Canyon Burns Excess Vegetation

The ranchers have rented out their herds to other municipalities in California the rest of the year and were expanding their herds to meet demand, city officials said.

“Why not do something — and as soon as we can?” Vice Mayor Reinette Senum told the Los Angeles Times . “If we’re not proactive, if we don’t help ourselves, no one else is going to step up.”

The foothill community is about 47 miles southeast of Paradise, which was decimated by a wildfire in November that killed 86 people and destroyed about 14,000 homes.

City officials said booking a herd costs between $500 to $1,500 an acre. Some 200 goats can munch on an acre of overgrown brush daily.

See also  French Riviera Wildfire Not Spreading But Still Uncontrolled

City Manager Catrina Olson said she, along with residents attending council meetings to talk about the project, are excited about the impending work, an idea “that’s catching on because there’s such high fire danger in our state.”

“It’s an interesting way to run a city campaign,” said Brad Fowler, a local rancher working with the city to rent out goats. “I like how people can choose to spend their money.”

All contents © copyright 2019 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Topics

Some 200 goats can munch on an acre of overgrown brush daily     NEVADA CITY, Calif. (AP) — The threat of catastrophic wildfires has driven a California town to launch a “Goat Fund Me” campaign to bring herds of goats to city-owned land to help clear brush. Nevada City in the Sierra Nevada began […]

Get The Wildland Firefighter Newsletter

Related Articles

Cowboy Communications

Cowboy Communications

I’ve written and told a lot of stories about leadership in the fire service. What good leadership looks like and how to be a good leader, I’ve talked about it a lot. Episode #90 at BobbieOnFire.com is all about an important lesson from the Dude, South Canyon and...

Wildfire on Canada’s Atlantic Coast Spurs Evacuation of 16,000

Wildfire on Canada’s Atlantic Coast Spurs Evacuation of 16,000

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — A wildfire on Canada’s Atlantic coast has damaged about 200 houses and other structures and prompted the evacuation of 16,000 people, many of whom were eager to return Tuesday to see whether homes and pets had survived. Firefighters worked...