Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
More than 100 cattle moved across the grasslands near Wonderland Lake as ranchers set up temporary electric fencing and guided the herd into a new grazing area.
The cows grazed just a few hundred feet from homes, trails and backyard patios. They were not there simply to eat. The city of Boulder hired them to help create a fuel barrier between open space and nearby neighborhoods.
“What I really like about projects like this is it’s not just about beef production or hay production,” said Andy Breiter, owner of Grama Grass and Livestock.
“It’s about a more holistic vision with all these co-benefits.”
Boulder launched the prescriptive grazing project last year in several smaller areas west of the city. This summer, the city expanded it to cover more land. At the time of reporting, cattle were grazing 60 to 70 acres, with additional areas planned later in the season.
Read the complete story here: rmpbs.org/news/science-environment/colorado-cattle-goats-grazing-fire-mitigation
Produced by Cormac McCrimmon
Reporting by Cormac McCrimmon and Ziyi Xu
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: bit.ly/3zeF6Ch
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• Newsletter: rmpbs.org/newsletters
• Facebook: facebook.com/rmpbs
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More than 100 cattle moved across the grasslands near Wonderland Lake as ranchers set up temporary electric fencing and guided the herd into a new grazing area.
The cows grazed just a few hundred feet from homes, trails and backyard patios. They were not there simply to eat. The city of Boulder hired them to help create a fuel barrier between open space and nearby neighborhoods.
“What I really like about projects like this is it’s not just about beef production or hay production,” said Andy Breiter, owner of Grama Grass and Livestock.
“It’s about a more holistic vision with all these co-benefits.”
Boulder launched the prescriptive grazing project last year in several smaller areas west of the city. This summer, the city expanded it to cover more land. At the time of reporting, cattle were grazing 60 to 70 acres, with additional areas planned later in the season.
Read the complete story here: rmpbs.org/news/science-environment/colorado-cattle-goats-grazing-fire-mitigation
Produced by Cormac McCrimmon
Reporting by Cormac McCrimmon and Ziyi Xu
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: bit.ly/3zeF6Ch
------------------------------------------------------
Follow Rocky Mountain PBS on our other platforms, too.
• Newsletter: rmpbs.org/newsletters
• Facebook: facebook.com/rmpbs
• Instagram: instagram.com/rmpbs
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-pbs
