Let livestock clear hard-to-reach shrubs and grasses before the next wildfire

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 10, 2026

Federal agencies are expanding the use of targeted grazing—using livestock to reduce flammable vegetation—to help mitigate wildfire risk on public lands as part of the 2025 Grazing Action Plan. While this approach offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods and shows localized success, challenges around implementation, funding, and environmental concerns may limit its wider adoption.

Across the American West, livestock such as cattle, goats, and sheep are increasingly being employed to reduce wildfire risk by grazing on grasses and shrubs that could otherwise fuel fires. This practice, known as targeted grazing, is gaining recognition as wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense, straining firefighting resources and public land management budgets.

Targeted grazing involves strategically allowing livestock to consume vegetation in areas prone to wildfire, helping to lower the amount of flammable material. This method offers an alternative or complement to traditional wildfire prevention techniques such as controlled burns, herbicide application, and mechanical thinning, which can be costly, labor-intensive, and sometimes impractical in remote or rugged terrain. Livestock can access and manage vegetation in these challenging areas with relative ease.

Federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, have incorporated targeted grazing into wildfire management strategies as part of the new 2025 Grazing Action Plan. The plan advocates for expanded use of livestock grazing on public lands to maintain fuel breaks and reduce wildfire severity.

While the strategy shows promise, experts caution that targeted grazing is not a universal solution and relies on careful timing and management. Ranchers must often adjust their operations to bring animals into specific areas at precise times, provide supplemental water, and maintain livestock in grazing zones longer than usual to achieve effective fuel reduction. These requirements can present logistical and financial challenges.

Survey data from Forest Service personnel indicate a mixed outlook on the broader adoption of targeted grazing. Although most respondents believe the method can be moderately effective in reducing wildfire risk, only a small fraction expressed strong likelihood to implement it extensively in coming years. Concerns were raised about adequate monitoring to assess effectiveness, the capacity of ranchers to carry out targeted grazing appropriately, and the feasibility of funding ranchers for these services.

Nonetheless, in certain regions, targeted grazing is already an integral component of wildfire mitigation. For example, in Santa Clara County, California, grazing programs are formally embedded in fire management plans. In Idaho, collaborative efforts involving ranchers, agency staff, and scientists have used sheep to reduce invasive, highly flammable grasses by more than 20% in some seasons, sometimes also enhancing native wildflower presence.

The expansion of targeted grazing is not without controversy. Environmental groups have challenged aspects of the Grazing Action Plan, expressing concerns over potential risks to wildlife and suggesting the policy may serve as a vehicle for increasing livestock grazing on public lands rather than purely focusing on fire prevention.

As federal agencies consider broadening targeted grazing initiatives, further investment in technical assistance and funding for ranchers and agency personnel may be necessary. Proponents argue that with appropriate support and coordination, targeted grazing could become a valuable component of wildfire management across vulnerable landscapes.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.