If you’re going to watch the sheep, leash your dogs or leave them at home
Our favorite sheep friends are working hard to reduce cheatgrass for fire season, and while people are permitted to go and coo over how adorable they are, multiple people have been also bringing their furry friends without leashing them, which scares the sheep and makes it difficult to perform their important work.
“We are so glad people are going out to view the sheep, but we do ask dog owners to please have your dog on a leash when you are in a sheep area," said Carson City Parks and Recreation. "The sheep can be startled by dogs who are off leash and there are guard dogs watching the sheep, so please help prevent a potential problem by making sure your dog is on a leash."
The sheep have been munching in the hills behind the Greenhouse Garden center all week, and will graze over 2,000 acres of Carson City foothills before their work is finished.
“The sheep have been essential over the last 13 years in helping to reduce fires in this area by eating cheatgrass – a highly successful invasive annual grass,” said Parks and Recreation. “After the 2004 Waterfall Fire, cheatgrass was one of the dominant plants that returned after the blaze, which then left more fuel on the landscape to feed a future wildfire. However, thanks to the sheep’s cheatgrass appetite, native plants have been able to establish and grow in a healthy manner, helping to combat this extremely flammable plant.”
Cheatgrass is a highly invasive species that originated in Eurasia and moved into Nevada in the 19th century due to overgrazing, according to the Online Nevada Encyclopedia. It roots down following fires, and is able to push out native sagebrush. As a highly flammable natural fuel, it can create defeat sting fires to our region that spread quickly.
“While we’ll never be able to get rid of cheatgrass, this is one tool in our toolbox to reduce the plant and our communities’ fire danger,” said Parks and Recreation. “While the sheep are with us, people are welcomed to come down and view the sheep! However, please do not come to see the sheep at night and please keep any dogs on a leash – or leave Fido at home. The sheep can be easily startled by dogs off leash, and there will also be guard dogs on-site keeping watch over the flock the entire time they are with us. The sheep will only spend a few days up to a week in a specific area, so your recreation routine won’t be disrupted for long. The sheep will be in Carson until Memorial Day.”
To find out where the sheep are, and to learn sheep facts, visit the Parks and Recreation Facebook page.
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