As part of a growing effort to reduce the risk of wildfires in Colorado, cattle are being deployed to eat dry grass that can fuel fast-moving flames. This initiative, spearheaded by city officials in Boulder County, involves partnering with local ranchers to bring herds into at-risk neighborhoods, including areas near Wonderland Lake Park, where 70 cattle grazed 35 acres of land.
Paul Dennison, representing Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, stated that cattle grazing began in early June, significantly reducing the grass height that would have otherwise reached up to three or four feet. This reduction in height helps slow the potential spread of fires and gives firefighters more time to respond. According to Dennison, as the cattle trample while grazing, they break up some of the thatch, which contributes to the reduction of fuel height in grasses and the decomposition of the thatch beneath the living grass.
Local ranchers are responsible for bringing the herds in by trailer, with the grazing rotation across five-acre sections over a two-week period. John Crockett, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, mentioned that while many believe cattle are the primary grazers, the agency actually utilizes cattle, sheep, goats, and ‘basically anything that uses the grasses and fine fuels as a food source’ to manage fire risks.
Boulder Fire Rescue’s public information officer, Jamie Barker, emphasized the benefits of cattle grazing for the fire department, both in the warmer months and in the fall. Although this year’s heavy rainfall has led to an increase in vegetation, which is generally considered good for the environment, it poses a future risk as the vegetation dries out. Barker noted that while people may be excited about the greenery, it will eventually dry out and become a potential risk for wildfires.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has indicated that similar grazing programs are becoming more common across the West, with states such as Idaho and Nevada adopting the same strategy to manage wildfire risks. Boulder officials plan to move the herd to another at-risk area later this fall to continue this risk reduction initiative.