Several hundred goats were released at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California as part of the Operation Goat Rope wildfire prevention pilot program. Animals will eat dry grass, shrubs and other vegetation that is flammable during the dry season. This is the first time controlled grazing has been used to prevent fires at a US military installation, the Pentagon said.
This week, 471 goats were released into the base's training area. Over the course of several weeks, the animals, under the supervision of herders, will clear an area of more than 600 acres (about 242 hectares) of vegetation, after which they will be transferred to other areas of the base, Stars and Stripes writes, citing military installation spokesman Blake Starbuck.
The herd consists of crosses between Spanish and Boer goats. These animals tolerate the hot and dry climate of Southern California well, are resilient and are able to move along steep slopes and rough terrain. The goats, provided by Shepherdess Land and Livestock, are trained to controlled grazing—they are directed to specific areas where they eat specific types of vegetation.
It is expected that the cleared areas will serve as fire buffer zones. In the event of a fire, they will help slow the spread of the fire and reduce its intensity. In addition, this method allows you to do without mechanical clearing with equipment that damages the soil.
“This nature-based initiative reduces fire danger along the base perimeter, protects critical military infrastructure and helps preserve ecosystems without the emissions, soil damage and chemical runoff that accompany traditional mechanical clearing,” Starbuck said.
Miramar also hopes that the firebreaks created by the goats will make the work of firefighters easier.
“This will give our firefighters the critical time and tactical advantage needed to safely and effectively contain a fire before it gets out of control,” said Miramar Base Fire Chief Joshua Allen.
The goats will be at the Miramar site for about five to six weeks, Starbuck said. The pilot program should help experts assess the long-term effectiveness of managed grazing and whether this method can be used in the future.
According to CBS News, since the beginning of 2026, wildfires have burned a record 8.5 million acres (about 3.4 million hectares) in the United States. This is the highest figure since the National Interagency Fire Center began keeping statistics in 1983.
This year, at the peak of the fire season – in August and early September – about 15,000 people, including federal and regional units, as well as foreign teams, were involved in extinguishing fires across the country. Available resources were used without reserve: in some cases there were no free fire brigades and equipment left, so forces had to be transferred from one active fire to another.
