Starting the week of June 16, approximately 50 head of cattle will be reintroduced to The Villages hill lands as part of our seasonal fire fuel reduction efforts. The cows will arrive via 16-foot trailer through the Upper Gardens gate off Valle Vista. The transportation of the cows to the hill lands will start on Monday, June 16, and be completed by Wednesday, June 19. Grazing will run from mid-June through mid-November annually.
The delay in resuming this program followed the January 2024 sale of the Richmond Ranch. With the rancher now resettled, we are moving forward to address overgrown vegetation and identified fire hazard through targeted grassland grazing (The Benefits of Livestock Grazing California’s Annual Grasslands).
Trail users should be aware of shared space with cattle and exercise appropriate caution (What To Do Around Cattle | East Bay Parks). Plans are in development to monitor effectiveness, assess environmental impact, and balance recreational access with land stewardship.
This initiative is part of our broader strategy to protect lives, homes, and habitat in the Hilllands through sustainable, cost-effective vegetation management.
