Prescott Arizona News and Events - Read It News Magazine

The United Christian Youth Camp has contracted with the Settler Valley Ranch to clear brush, grass and low tree branches creating defensible space to protect the camp from fire.

The Settler Valley Ranch uses an approach new to Prescott - 70 goats to clear the target area of over 7 acres in 8 weeks.

According to Ryan Smith, City of Prescott Community Planner, "The goats are surprisingly clean and efficient."

An electric fence powered by a single solar charged car battery is used to keep the goats within a perimeter and to keep predators like coyotes and mountain lions out.

"The sound of the goats eating is something out of a far side cartoon," mused Smith. "You hear chomp chomp chomp, munch, munch, munch as the 70 goats make there way through the food source. They hike up the rocks easily. They also stand up on their hind legs to get at whatever they can reach using the front legs to lean against whatever is handy. It's actually very tranquil, fun to watch and listen to them."

Smith added that the area's Wildland hotshot crews are also using goats to create natural fire breaks.

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