Colorado is a pretty dry state, prone to fires in both forest and grassland. No, Californians didn’t bring this problem to Colorado with them; it’s always been that way. In fact, this is one of the few problems Colorado has that wasn’t caused by an influx of liberal Californians, although those people do tend towards favoring hands-off forestry practices that lead to runaway fires.
Colorado, though, as it happens, already has something that can help prevent fires, at least on the open grasslands, and that something may come as an udder surprise to some:
Cows.
As part of a growing effort to reduce the risk of wildfires in Colorado, cattle are being deployed to eat dry grass that often fuels fast-moving flames.
City officials in Boulder County have partnered with local ranchers to bring herds into at-risk neighborhoods, including areas near Wonderland Lake Park, where 70 cattle grazed 35 acres of land.
Paul Dennison, who is with Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, told Fox News that cattle grazing began in early June, which brought the grass height down from the three to four feet expected if left unmanaged.
This is a good idea; it’s good for the cattle, it’s good for the grassland, and it’s good for the people who may otherwise have been the victims of a runaway grass fire.
Cattle are, after all, natural grazers; their four-chambered stomachs are ideal for digesting grass, which is a harsh, low-quality food. Grasses are loaded with silica and have relatively low nutrient content. People can’t eat it – but cattle can, turning into delicious, delicious beef. So, it’s good to have cattle hoofing it around these open spaces.
The Colorado region’s mountainous terrain, dry climate, and frequent winds make it especially vulnerable to wildfire. Dennison explained that using cattle to keep vegetation low can slow potential fire spread and give firefighters more time to respond.
“As the cattle trample as they graze, they break up some of that thatch, so we are looking at reduction of fuel height in the grasses, and we are also looking for some decomposition and degradation of the thatch that lies underneath the living grass,” Dennison added.
It’s a good moove.
Read More: California Democrats Are Using Wildfires As Cover for a Land Grab
Huge Fail: Gavin Newsom Uses Taxpayer Resources to Bully, Attempt to Silence a Palisades Fire Victim
Now, this is in Boulder County; the city of Boulder, we might note, is referred to by Colorado’s remaining conservatives as “The People’s Republic of Boulder.” Only in a place like Boulder would people be amazed at the notion that cows can actually eat grass, and that keeping the grass short in a dry, hot environment can help prevent fires. What’s moore, they not only trim the grass, but supply free, natural fertilizer into the bargain. Their hooves also break up the matted grasses, allowing rain and nutrients to reach deeper into the soil.
In other words, cattle and grasslands are good for each other. Not to mention that the local people get a reduced fire risk, and delicious, free-range beef. These ranchers should be milking this for all it’s worth. As fire-prevention ideas go, this one’s the cream of the crop. But then, anyone who has been around cattle already knows this.
So, congratulations to the people of Boulder County, Colorado. You just figured out something that most of humanity has known for thousands of years.
Help RedState continue to tell the truth about the Trump administration’s accomplishments as we continue to usher in the Golden Era of America. Join RedState’s VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership today.
