Pyrograzing turns ordinary livestock into fire prevention heroes, so why isn’t it used on public lands more often?

Targeted grazing is gaining interest as fire risk rises, particularly in hard-to-manage areas of the Western US. But it isn’t always as simple as it seems.

By: Briana Swette, Boise State University and Kelly Hopping, Boise State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 2, 2026

Words: 1,224

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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By Briana Swette, Boise State University and Kelly Hopping, Boise State University

In grasslands across the American West, four-legged fire prevention crews are busy at work, helping keep wildfire risk under control. These cattle, goats and sheep stomp down tall grasses as they munch their way through plants that could otherwise burn, lowering the risk of catastrophic fires in the process.

When livestock are intentionally used for wildfire control like this, the practice is known as …

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