Goats brought in to prevent bushfires in NSW Central West
Goats spend almost all their waking hours eating, nibbling away non-stop at grass and shrubs.
All that chewing and chomping is now being put to good use by the Rural Fire Service in NSW's Central West - hungry goats helping reduce the risk of bushfires.
A herd of bucks and billies have been picked to protect Clandulla village near Mudgee - which has been identified as an extreme bushfire risk this summer.
READ MORE: Man attacked by a goat in NSW Blue Mountains
Goats are being used instead of backburning in the NSW Central West. Nine
The goats are on loan from two local farmers.
They'll be grazing in Clandulla for the next two months, eating their way through any foliage that could start a fire.
"Goats will eat up shrubs, small tree saplings and eat woody weeds some of your other animals won't," farmer Michael Blewitt said.
And while employing goats to fight fires is an Australian-first, it has already been done in the USA, Portugal and Spain.
The goats grazing near Mudgee. Nine
These goats are expected to clear more than two hectares over the next three weeks, creating a buffer zone to the village of 200 people.
While backburning is reliant on certain weather conditions, goats are happy to clear away grass, shrubs and bushes no matter the weather.
READ MORE: Goat rescued from roof of Sydney home
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