Carson City Fuel Reduction Project Using Sheep

 

UPDATES! (updated on June 6th, 2024)

Sheep Location

  • The sheep have completed grazing in Carson City and have moved on for the year. We thank you all for your support of the sheep and we look forward to next year!

Interpretive Hike

  • Thank you to everyone who came out to our Sheep Talk on Monday April 29th to learn more about our wooly firefighters! If you missed the Sheep Talk, check out photos and more information on the sheep below. 

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Background Information:

  • This is the 18th year that Carson City is managing the sheep grazing project for the fine-fuels (e.g. cheatgrass) reduction in west Carson City to reduce wildfire risk at the wildland urban interface. This project began in 2006 following the 2004 Waterfall Fire which burned almost all of the west side of Carson City and destroyed 17 homes.
  • There are two bands of sheep from Borda Land and Sheep Company: the north band consists of ~700 ewes and grazes behind Western Nevada College and the Timberline and Lakeview neighborhoods; the south band consists of ~700 ewes/lamb pairs and grazes hillsides from Voltaire Canyon to the south of Kings Canyon (Lincoln Bypass Trail and Borda Meadows). Quill Canyon is avoided to protect the City's water source. 
  • The north band grazes from about mid-April to mid-May.
  • The south band grazes from about mid-April to end of May. 
  • During this time, signage will be posted at trailheads to notify residents/dog-walkers to be mindful of the sheep and to keep their dog(s) on a leash.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long will the sheep be grazing?

The north band of sheep will finish grazing by mid-May, while the south band will finish grazing by the beginning of June. These are approximate dates and depends on forage levels.

 2. Why does my dog need to be on-leash?

Many dogs tend to herd other animals and will chase the sheep, spooking the herd. There are also guard dogs and  herding dogs that are present 24/7 with the sheep that are trained to defend them and will confront other dogs if they decide to approach. To avoid conflict, it is essential that dogs be kept on leash while sheep are grazing the nearby trails. Trails that are impacted will be marked with signage for the duration sheep are present. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our wooly firefighters safe! *Note, sheep will only graze a specific area for up to a week.

3. A sheep has strayed from the herd and is now near my house. What should I do?

It is not uncommon for a young lamb to get separated from the rest of the herd. This can happen when a lamb (or ewe) takes a break to rest under a shrub, then loses track of the herd. While they are trying to find the herd, they may veer close to the yards of homes adjacent to the grazed hillsides and continuously call out. The rancher has assured us that with time the lamb/ewe will typically find the herd within 24 hours. Although the sounds can be alarming/sound distressing, it is best to let the lamb/ewe find the herd on its own and wait it out. Do not encourage the lamb/ewe to come into your yard! 

If a lamb gets stuck in your yard or you find a hurt lamb, please call the numbers below in the following order until you reach someone:

  • Carson City Parks main line: (775) 887-2262
  • Nevada Humane Society: (775) 887-2171
  • Carson City non-emergency dispatch: (775) 887-2677

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Sheep's Impacts on Fires

Sheep are herbivores which live in groups called flocks. They are ruminants which mean they have 4 parts to their stomachs, allowing them to eat plants and grasses that other animals cannot. A ruminant's stomach differs from human stomachs because it is not acidic, and instead is full of good bacteria that allow them to turn plants into energy. Sheep help the environment by eating non-native weeds that threaten the health of native grasses and by eating underbrush, which serves as a fuel to wildfires. In addition to this, sheep have pointed hooves which break up soil as they walk. This then allows seeds to find a place to grow and for water to soak into the ground easier, allowing plants to grow and preventing soil erosion. Sheep also have a unique mouth/palette that allows for non-invasive and impactful grazing, as opposed to horses and cows that tend to pull out entire perennial grasses including the roots!

Utilizing sheep to control weeds and prevent wildfires is a natural and cost-effective way to protect the environment. We use sheep in Carson City to eat cheatgrass and other fine fuels on Open Space land to eliminate fire risk and allow native species to grow in its place.

Wildfires pose a serious threat to public safety and air quality. In Carson City, cheatgrass poses the biggest risk of large wildfires. It is extremely flammable, contributing to the highly destructive nature of Nevada wildfires over the past ten years. When cheatgrass dies, it dries up and leaves a layer of fuel on the ground for fires. Since most native species have not set seed yet, this leaves them at a disadvantage and maintains cheatgrass' prominence in the region - with each fire, cheatgrass gains dominance. The seeds germinate in the late fall, which allows the plant to grow quickly in the early spring. Therefore, native sagebrush lands converting to cheatgrass lands are one of Nevada's most important environmental issues. Additionally, cheatgrass fails to provide resources for the large variety of Nevada wildlife that rely on sagebrush as a food source and cover. In the early spring, while cheatgrass is still green, foraging animals can utilize use it as a food source. However, during the summer the sharp awns (bristles) of the seeds deter grazing animals. Currently, the best way to control cheatgrass is to prevent its spread in new areas by reintroducing native species that can compete with it and to reduce the fire risks of cheatgrass fields through the utilization of grazing animals. Thus, cheatgrass poses a risk to the biodiversity of our rangeland and to human safety due to wildfires. 

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 Carson City Fuels Reduction Project Using Sheep Map