A herd of 40 firefighting goats is chewing its way through hectares of bushfire fuel under a NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) trial in the State’s west.
In a statement, NSW RFS said the goats were being used to ‘cell-graze’ between different patches of undergrowth through high-risk areas.
“You ‘herd’ it correctly – the NSW RFS have recruited goats to undertake a hazard reduction grazing trial in the State’s west to further prepare this fire season,” NSW RFS said.
“The honorary four-legged firefighters have been sourced from local farmers and in a controlled environment are grazing on grass to reduce the fuel loads in fire-prone areas,” it said.
“No kidding – these goats provide an alternative to burning, which is heavily reliant on favourable weather.”
NSW RFS said that, in rain hail or shine, the goats were there to help.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott said the use of grazing goats was in response to a recommendation of the independent inquiry into the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20.
Mr Elliott said the goats were most useful where conventional fire reduction methods, such as burning or mechanical clearing, were challenging.
He said the NSW RFS trial began in August and would continue for several months in different locations across the State.
“It is estimated that the goats will eat around a quarter of a hectare of dense vegetation in two weeks, and medium-density vegetation in one week,” Mr Elliott said.
