Westmont has welcomed a herd of sheep to campus to eat non-native vegetation and reduce wildfire fuel in the barranca west of Voskuyl Library, adjacent to the dry Westmont Creek.
Coordinated by Montecito Fire, the flock from Cuyama Lamb will consume the grasses before they dry out later this summer and have the potential to feed a wildfire.
“As we saw in the Thomas Fire and the Tea Fire, this canyon is notorious for funneling fire down into the community,” said Maeve Juarez, a wildland fire specialist for Montecito Fire.
“We’re really sensitive to controlling the flashy fuels in this area, trying to prevent dangerous ember cast, when heavy winds carry embers downwind to a new area and ignite spot fires,” Juarez said…