MCAS Miramar launches goat grazing pilot to prevent wildfires

Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar has launched ‘Operation Goat Rope’, a pilot program utilizing targeted grazing to mitigate wildfire risks. The initiative involves the deployment of 471 Spanish-Boer crossbreed goats across 600 acres to consume dry brush, invasive weeds, and dense chaparral that serve as fuel for wildfires.

Partnering with Shepherdess Land and Livestock, the base transported the all-female herd from California’s Central Valley. The program aims to create strategic fuel breaks, which MCAS Miramar Fire Chief Joshua Allen notes are essential for creating defensible space. These breaks are designed to slow a fire’s advance and reduce the energy released during a blaze, providing firefighting crews with a tactical advantage to suppress fires before they escalate.

The goats were specifically selected for their resilience on rugged slopes and their ability to thrive in the hot, arid Southern California climate. This nature-based solution is part of a broader fire prevention strategy to protect both military infrastructure and adjacent civilian communities.