Goats clear vegetation at Jacks Peak Park as the fire season begins

THESE CAN CARRY AND DROP A THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER AT A TIME. RUCINEDG DRY VEGETATION COULD TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB.. BUT NOT ALWAYS.. TODAY IN MONTEREY.. HUNDREDS OF GOATS WERE BROUGHT TO JACKS PEAK PARK TO HELP WITH FIRE PREVENTION.. ACTION NEWS 8 REPORTER ARIANA JASO IS LIVE IN MONTEREY WITH THE STORY.. ARIANA ? DAN.. I'M HERE AT JACKS PEAK PARK.. THCOE UNTY IS EMPLOYING 600 GOATS .. TO GRAZE AND MINIMIZE THE VEGETATIO. N. PARK MANAGERS SAY THEY PY LA A HUGE ROLE IN TOWARDS FIRE PREVENTION .. GIVEN TO MONTEREY COUNTY FROM CALFIRE AND CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AWARDED A GRANT OF MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS IT WAS GO-TIME TODAY FOR SIX HUNDRED GOS.AT. WE'RE TOLD THEY'RE A GAME-CHANGER.. THEY'RE ABLE TO GET INTO THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES THAT PEOPLE CAN'T REACH. THEY ALSO EAT POISON OAK. <JOHN AKEMAN///MONTEY RE COUNTY PARKS PLANNING MANAGER 3:167 THERE IS A VORACIOUS EATER AS YOU CAN SEE BEHD IN US CONSTANTLY EATING SO THEY'RE REMOVING ALL THAT IN PLACE OF BUILD UP SO IT'S REALLY GOOD IT'S A GAME CHANGER IN A SENSE THAT THEY GET INTO THE AREAS WHERE PERSONNEL REALLY CAN'T GET INTO 3:39 RENO DITULLIO// CALFIRE UNIT CHIEF MONTEREY-N SA BENITO COUNTY 1:39- 1:53 YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPERVISION TO THEM. TY HE ARE NOT MECHANICAL, SO THEY DON'T MAKE A LOT OF NOISE AND EYTH WORK 24/7 > BECAUSE OF IT'S LOCATION.. CURRENT ENVIRONMENT.. AND VEGETATION.. IT IS CONSIDERED HIGH RISK.. .. THIS FUEL REDUCTION PROJECT COVERS ABOUT 40-ACRES .. THE GOATS WILL BE HERE FOR ABOUT 2 TO 3 WEEKS .. AND EVERYONE IS URGED NO

It’s go time for these wildfire-fighting goats. Thanks to a grant of more than $100,000 given to Monterey County from Cal Fire and the California Department of Forestry, 600 goats are at Jacks Peak Park to help prevent wildfires. They eat up all the vegetation that could spark fires.“They're voracious eaters,” said John Akeman, Monterey County Parks Planning Manager. They’re able to get into all the nooks and crannies that firefighters can’t reach. "Just constantly eating so they're removing all that in place of build up so it's really good it's a game-changer," Akeman said. The goats are fast workers and low maintenance. CalFire Unit Chief of Monterey-San Benito County, Reno Ditullio said, "You don't have to provide a lot of supervision to them. They are not mechanical, so they don't make a lot of noise and they work 24/7 and they do a really good job.”With many different types of fuels, grasses and brushes and a wild-fire season that’s already ahead of schedule. The goats are a huge help in the desperate need for fire prevention. “We would like to continue using them. I think words gotten out and since the word has gotten out, we're finding a shortage on the goats. But that's a good thing," Ditullio said.The fuel reduction project covers about 40-acres. The goats will be at Jacks Peak Park for about two the three weeks and everyone is urged not the bug them, just let the goats do their job.

MONTEREY, Calif. —

It’s go time for these wildfire-fighting goats.

Thanks to a grant of more than $100,000 given to Monterey County from Cal Fire and the California Department of Forestry, 600 goats are at Jacks Peak Park to help prevent wildfires. They eat up all the vegetation that could spark fires.

“They're voracious eaters,” said John Akeman, Monterey County Parks Planning Manager.

They’re able to get into all the nooks and crannies that firefighters can’t reach.

"Just constantly eating so they're removing all that in place of build up so it's really good it's a game-changer," Akeman said.

The goats are fast workers and low maintenance.

CalFire Unit Chief of Monterey-San Benito County, Reno Ditullio said, "You don't have to provide a lot of supervision to them. They are not mechanical, so they don't make a lot of noise and they work 24/7 and they do a really good job.”

With many different types of fuels, grasses and brushes and a wild-fire season that’s already ahead of schedule. The goats are a huge help in the desperate need for fire prevention.

“We would like to continue using them. I think words gotten out and since the word has gotten out, we're finding a shortage on the goats. But that's a good thing," Ditullio said.

The fuel reduction project covers about 40-acres. The goats will be at Jacks Peak Park for about two the three weeks and everyone is urged not the bug them, just let the goats do their job.

Goats clear vegetation at Jacks Peak Park as the fire season begins

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