Starting on April 27, and lasting through late May, hundreds of sheep have been released to graze Southwest of Reno, Nev. in an effort to mitigate wildfire danger, according to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

“Cattle grazing can be used to create fuel breaks, which are strips or blocks where vegetation has been minimized or removed to slow the spread of wildfire, making it easier and safer for firefighters to combat wildfires,” The Northwest Climate Club says.

Fuel breaks are typically created through controlled burns or chemical or mechanical treatments. Each of these methods have their own weaknesses; however, they can be extremely expensive and inefficient. Grazing can also reach areas that mowing or dozing couldn’t.

This effort will target invasive vegetation such as cheatgrass, while leaving native plants to thrive. According to the Northwest Climate Club, the growth of invasive grasses is “one of the main contributors to increased fire size and frequency in the Great Basin.”

The use of grazing animals to prevent wildfires and clean areas is not unique to the Nevada area, though. The Northwest Climate Club has plans to release sheep and cattle near Boise, Idaho and Frenchglen, Oregon as well. Grazing animals have also been used  by the U.S. Forest Service as a tool to clean landscapes of hazardous fuels in 2018, and they have been utilized for wildfire prevention as early as 2013.

This area is a popular spot for walking dogs, so locals are reminded to leash their dogs when in the area. This is to prevent conflict and protect both sheep and pets.