EOD Goats on the Frontlines of Wildfire Prevention

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California MCAS Miramar has launched a firstofitskind wildfireprevention experiment, 471 goats are now grazing across the base's rugged East Miramar training area to clear dense, fireprone vegetation.

The pilot program, "Operation Goat Rope", began September 15 and marks the first prescribed grazing effort on a U.S. military installation. The allfemale herd of SpanishBoer crossbreeds, supplied by Shepherdess Land and Livestock, is tasked with reducing invasive grasses across an initial 600acre zone, including areas too dangerous or inaccessible for human crews due to steep terrain and active EOD ranges.

Base officials say goats offer a safer, environmentally friendly alternative to heavy machinery, which can damage habitat and threaten the near dozen endangered species living on MCAS Miramar. Col. Erik Herrmann, Commanding Officer of MCAS Miramar, said, "Bringing the goats in is much better than bringing in heavy machinery that's going to trample a lot of those protected areas."

"Wildland fire doesn't know fencelines. They don't stop just because it's a military base, so really, what we are offering the community is a barrier to help protect if something starts here or moves through here."

The herd is expected to clear 1 to 5 acres per day. If successful, the program could expand across Miramar's 23,000plus acres and potentially serve as a model for other military bases. The pilot runs through December 2026, when officials will evaluate its effectiveness and decide whether to scale up the effort.