As wildfires become more frequent and severe in the American West, a growing number of land managers are turning to an unconventional solution: using livestock to reduce fire risk. Known as targeted grazing, this practice involves strategically placing cattle, goats, and sheep in specific areas to eat or trample vegetation that could otherwise fuel wildfires. With fire seasons stretching longer and becoming more intense, agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are exploring this method as part of a broader strategy to manage fire risk on public lands. Targeted grazing is particularly useful in grasslands and shrublands, where livestock can effectively reduce the amount of dry, flammable vegetation. In California, for example, beef cattle consumed around 600 pounds of vegetation per acre across nearly 34 million acres in 2017. In some areas, like Santa Clara County, grazing is now a formal part of wildfire management plans. The goal is not to eliminate fire entirely, but to reduce the amount of fuel available so that fires burn less intensely and are easier for firefighters to control. This can help protect communities and allow ecosystems to recover more quickly after a fire. In certain situations, grazing can be a more practical and cost-effective option than other fire risk reduction methods. Intentional burning, for example, can be dangerous in areas with dense vegetation that would cause fires to spread too quickly. Similarly, using herbicides or heavy machinery to clear vegetation is often not feasible in remote or rugged terrain. Livestock, however, can navigate these areas more easily. Some land managers use grazing before controlled burns to create safer conditions, while others use it in conjunction with herbicides to improve their effectiveness. Despite its potential, targeted grazing is not a universal solution. A survey of over 1,000 U.S. Forest Service staff found that while many believed it could be moderately effective, only about 5% said they were very likely to use it in the near future. Concerns included the difficulty of coordinating grazing efforts, the cost of transporting water to dry areas, and the need for monitoring to ensure the practice works as intended. Additionally, few believed the agency could afford to pay ranchers to perform targeted grazing on public lands. As federal agencies push to expand the use of targeted grazing, researchers and land managers are working to understand where and how it can be most effective. In Idaho, for instance, scientists are collaborating with ranchers to use sheep to reduce invasive grasses that pose a high fire risk. In some years, the sheep have successfully reduced invasive grass cover by over 20%, while also promoting the growth of native wildflowers. These efforts highlight the potential of targeted grazing when ranchers, herders, scientists, and government agencies work together. However, challenges remain, including how to fund and scale the practice, and whether it can be done without harming wildlife or opening up more land for grazing.