BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) — A new crowd has arrived in Boulder — but they aren’t here to stay. More than 100 cows are now grazing on open space near the Dakota Ridge neighborhood as part of a wildfire mitigation project led by the city.
The Boulder Fire Rescue Department is using the herd to reduce wildfire fuel by allowing the cattle to eat down grass that poses a fire risk. And it’s a welcome sight for neighbors.
“The whole side of the mountain caught on fire and they were trying to evacuate everybody,” said Denise Maslanka, a longtime Boulder resident, recalling a 2002 wildfire near her home.
After watching those flames, she’s prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
“Living on the open space is really awesome,” Maslanka said. “But being so close to combustible materials is a little concerning.”
So 104 new guests in her backyard bring a welcome sense of relief.
“We’re making the space more resilient by creating sort of grass-trampled ground,” said Jamie Barker, public information officer for Boulder Fire Rescue. “And some grass that’s non-existent because they’re eating it.”
Barker says the nine acres of tall, dry grass that surround the Dakota Ridge neighborhood are perfect fuel for a wildfire. The cows, in theory, will eat as much of it as they can over the next week and ideally cut it down to about a six-inch height. Barker says that will slow down the impact of a potential fire, without the need for large mowers or chemical sprays.
“We try to balance the need for safety and security from wildfire risk with the needs of our ecosystems and how best to engage with the land,” Barker said.
The cattle will graze across a nine-acre area through Oct. 6, rotating in two- to three-acre sections. The goal is to reduce grass height to about six inches, which can help slow the spread of fire — without the need for chemicals or heavy machinery.
The cows come thanks to a partnership with local ranchers, and will move around the area in two- or three-acre sections through October 6.
“To have these cows grazing here, the cattle, it’s so cool that they’re going to take down these grasses,” Maslanka said.
The pilot program is part of the city’s broader wildfire mitigation strategy, which also includes mowing, forest thinning and infrastructure
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
