Researchers study sheep as lawn mowers for potential use in fire management

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, are hoping to ditch conventional lawn mowers and instead opt for sheep to graze and munch down on campus lawns. 

The pilot project began on Wednesday and will start with 25 sheep of four different breeds on a one-acre spot on campus. They'll graze for three days before returning again for another round in a month.

Haven Kiers, an assistant professor of landscape architecture and the project's lead, said they'll be examining biodiversity, soil nutrients, compaction and grass length.

Citing historical practice of using sheep at New York's Central Park and the White House, Kiers hopes the project can inspire others to recruit sheep for landscaping as well.

Beyond this project, Kiers believes sheep can help in wildland fire management.

Like goats- an animal commonly used in fuel reduction- sheep can help eat overgrown lawns and other landscapes vulnerable to fires. Kiers said sheep can help after a fire as well.

"They're really good at eating the weeds that we don't want, those invasive weeds. So they'll pluck those out before they have a chance to set seeds, and that leaves more space for more of the native grassland plants, and the native California flora, and so by doing that, they're actually improving biodiversity," Kiers said.

One of the hired student sheepherders is 23-year-old senior landscape architecture major Hunter Ottman.

"The go-to for so much of the time is just a mower, and when you have basically a species that has evolved to do that naturally, and when there's so little input required to get them out here, why not switch," Ottman said.

There's also an environmental impact. With fewer mowers, Ottman said there's a potential for fewer emissions.

"Do sheep mowers do the job that we kind of expect from a conventional mowing practice, meaning something that is likely to be gas-powered, mechanical and has associated costs with it," Ottman said.

In addition to the scientific knowledge they'll gain, Kiers hopes to stimulate engagement.

"I want to create landscapes that combine science and design to create engagement so that people want to be here, so anytime I mention the sheep project, people get really excited," Kiers said. "They want to watch the sheep. They want to come see. They want to be part of that and that part has really been fun for me."

(Source: Reuters) 

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