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Glendale Deploys Goat Herd to Clear Verdugo Park Brush Ahead of Fire Season

Officials accelerated grazing to cut fuel near homes after rapid brush regrowth.

Overview

  • A California Grazing Company herd began work on Feb. 11 in Verdugo Park, targeting roughly 20 acres for about a week.
  • The operation prioritizes steep hillsides near Las Flores Drive homes where machinery is impractical or too noisy.
  • Goats are monitored around the clock by shepherds, with guard dogs and an electric fence securing the project area.
  • Grazing is one part of the Glendale Fire Department’s Vegetation Management Program, which also relies on mechanized brush clearance, inspections, and resident coordination.
  • The push follows City Council adoption of updated CAL FIRE maps that expanded very high fire hazard zones to nearly 15,000 acres and added 7,400-plus parcels, with additional grazing visits planned later in summer.