As California battles devastating wildfires that have claimed lives and forced evacuations, Israel continues to pioneer inventive approaches to fire prevention,  including an army of woolly warriors that’s transforming the landscape one bite at a time.

Israel is a region that’s no stranger to wildfires (especially when the weather is particularly missile-y). While the country has produced a bevy of solutions to that problem, perhaps the most interesting solution is the herds of thousands of goats, sheep and antelopes that have been strategically deployed to Israel’s forests, fields and army bases. These animals tackle dense undergrowth and munch on low-hanging branches; a form of natural pruning that creates crucial firebreaks, making it harder for flames to spread from the ground to the treetops.

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