Sheep manicure Chino Hills (CA)

[question everything]

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Sheep manicure Chino Hills

Flock limits fire danger, enhances pastoral ambience
By Amy Frye
Staff Writer

(snip)

For the past five years, Chino Hills has employed Pedro Indacochea and his sheep to graze on weeds in the most out-of-reach places that pose fire hazards to the city's 3,000 acres of open space.

"We've saved in excess of over $90,000 since the program started," Chino Hills maintenance and operations manager Sean O'Connoring said. "It's a benefit for Pedro. He gets his sheep fed, and residents like it -- they take their kids to see the sheep."

In fact, the city charges Indacochea $132 a month to graze his sheep.

(snip)

With this year's abundant rains, their services are especially important, as there may be more weeds than the flock and community service workers can clear by May 15 -- the city-imposed deadline for clearing the overgrown fields near homes to prevent brush fires.

(snip)

The sheep have an advantage over community service workers in this respect, in that they can negotiate extremely steep slopes where it is dangerous for hand crews and tractors to work, Hagler said. The sheep are also much quieter than weed-whackers or tractors, and they help scare off snakes.

More

http://www.dailybulletin.com/Stories/0,1413,203~21481~2804939,00.html#

Amy Frye can be reached by e-mail at [e-mail] or by phone at [phone], Ext. 426.

[proud patriot]

1. I like this story

:D

[question everything]

2. Thank you, so did I

And here is the picture that accompanied it

[UdoKier]

3. Nice story!

And not a thing in it to get pissed about. That's a relief.

[DBoon]

4. I've seen these sheep

grazing, as I drive through this area sometimes.

Nice to have this in the middle of urban sprawl

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. Here in SF...

at the large water reservoir down the block they graze goats around twice a year to take out the weeds. The first time I drove up and saw them my jaw hit the floor -- I just couldn't believe what I was seeing! Of course word got out fast and the whole neighborhood had to come out and watch the goats. It was a lot of fun and I alwys look forward to another visit from them. And they do a great job, too. :)

[porphyrian]

6. In the South, they use herds of goats to help tame kudzu. - n/t