400 Goats In Sonoma County For US Hwy 101 Fire Prevention Mission

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A herder with 400 goats was scheduled to arrive Wednesday for the purpose of fire prevention along a stretch of U.S. Highway 101 in Sonoma County.

The eco-friendly mission to remove brush along a two-mile stretch of U.S. 101, between Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg and Canyon Road in Geyserville, was a collaboration between state Sen. Mike McGuire's Office, Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and the North Sonoma County Fire Protection District.

"Caltrans hired the herbivorous herd to devour shrubs and weeds along Highway 101, creating a firebreak before the summer heat renders vegetation dry and flammable," Caltrans District 4 Spokesman Vince Jacala said in a news release. "The goats can consume between an acre to an acre-and-a half of dry vegetation per day and will remain on location until they have cleared the roadside brush — estimated in 12-16 days."

Temporary fencing was installed to secure the large herd, and a goat herder and guard dog are onsite to control and protect the goats.

"Sonoma County has gone through hell and back with these wildland fires, and now, emergency preparedness and prevention has become a part of our daily lives," Sen. Mike McGuire said.

"Working hand in hand with Caltrans and the Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District, we couldn’t be more excited to advance this vegetation management and fire break project along the 101 corridor," McGuire said. "It may sound funny, but goats are some of the most effective partners we have at reducing fire load. We’re grateful to Chief Turbeville and Caltrans for working with us and look forward to deploying over 400 hungry goats soon."

No lane or highway closures are scheduled, but Caltrans says motorists should always drive with caution through any work or maintenance zone.

Caltrans has used goats at other locations but never on this scale.

"Caltrans Bay Area utilizes an integrated vegetation management plan," said Caltrans Bay Area Director Tony Tavares, "which includes diverse methods of controlling roadside weeds, grass, and shrubs. Grazing goats can’t be used in every situation, but when appropriate, it’s an excellent method of controlling brush without using herbicides."

In May, Caltrans brought goats to the Bay Bridge approach in San Francisco to eat the hard-to-reach brush on the steep slope.

Unlike cattle, which graze close to the ground, goats nibble brush almost down to the ground, creating excellent firebreaks.

"During the Tubbs and Kincade fires, we saw that grazed land provided strong and effective fuel breaks that protected homes and forest," Fourth District Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore said. "This is exactly the kind of project we need in Sonoma County."