Forest service brings in goats to maintain fuel break

San Diego Country Estates residents should not be surprised if they suddenly see goats wandering through adjacent Cleveland National Forest lands.

According to forest service Fuels Battalion Chief Tim Gray, approximately 600 goats were scheduled to be unloaded at the end of Ramona Oaks Road on Tuesday, April 23, to work on maintaining a fuel break called the San Vicente/Barona Mesa Community Defense.

“That fuel break is designed to protect San Diego Country Estates,” said forest service Public Affairs Officer Brian Harris.

*DSC_1635.WEBfeatureFuel breaks are established to prevent wildfires from spreading. Overseen by herders and occasionally forest service staff, the goats will eat small brush on a 100-acre segment of the defense line, said Gray. It is expected that will take about a month, he said.

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