Spring Fire is Good for Wild Turkeys
07-09-2009 | 02:37 PM
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Spring Fire is Good for Wild Turkeys
As forest managers conduct more prescribed burns during spring, some hunters are worried that growing season burns could have an impact on wild turkey populations, but biologists know spring burns are good for wildlife.
"Prescribed fire reduces wildfire fuel, opens up the understory and encourages forbs and grass seed production," said James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D., NWTF's chief conservation officer. "This creates valuable brood habitat necessary for turkey poult production and improves overall forest health."
Growing season burns are better for forest health than burns conducted during winter when undesirable trees and brush are dormant.
"Burning as brush is sprouting and coming alive kills the entire plant including the root system rather than just burning the tops away," Kennamer said.
The lush new plant growth after the burn attracts a multitude of insects and provides food and shelter for growing turkey poults. However, since these burns often coincide with the nesting season of wild turkeys, questions naturally arise about the impacts on turkeys.
Research conducted separately on the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana and on Homochitto National Forest in Mississippi shows that hens prefer to nest in more open areas than the thick brushy areas forest managers are improving with fire.
In fact, of 64 nest observed in Mississippi during the spring burning season, only four were spotted in areas scheduled to be burned and only two were actually destroyed by the fire.
While some nests are lost in spring burns, evidence shows that most hens will renest if they lose their first, especially if it happens early in their incubation cycle.
"The improvement to forest health more than makes up for any minor negative impacts on nesting," said Jeff Bien, U.S. Forest Service fire management officer for Homochitto National Forest.
Forest managers on Homochitto normally conduct a third of each year's prescribed burns during the spring growing season while maintaining healthy turkey populations. In fact, burn areas are extremely popular with turkeys.
"We see a lot of birds in recently burned areas," Bien said. "We've even had people who have taken birds in areas that are still smoking."
Biologists also point toward evidence that spring is the historical time for cleansing fires in nature. Before humans interfered, spring lightning storms ignited fires that eliminated brush and opened forests up to new growth. This prevented devastating fires that can destroy forests and enhanced habitat for wildlife.
Today's prescribed fire regimen simulates nature's original forest health plan.
"The use of prescribed fire during the growing season is a win-win situation for wild turkeys," Kennamer said. "I hope this will ease the minds of turkey hunters the next time they smell the smoke of a growing-season fire."
For more information about growing season prescribed fire and its benefits to wildlife, call (800) THE-NWTF.
NWTF Newsletter July 9
JW
"Prescribed fire reduces wildfire fuel, opens up the understory and encourages forbs and grass seed production," said James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D., NWTF's chief conservation officer. "This creates valuable brood habitat necessary for turkey poult production and improves overall forest health."
Growing season burns are better for forest health than burns conducted during winter when undesirable trees and brush are dormant.
"Burning as brush is sprouting and coming alive kills the entire plant including the root system rather than just burning the tops away," Kennamer said.
The lush new plant growth after the burn attracts a multitude of insects and provides food and shelter for growing turkey poults. However, since these burns often coincide with the nesting season of wild turkeys, questions naturally arise about the impacts on turkeys.
Research conducted separately on the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana and on Homochitto National Forest in Mississippi shows that hens prefer to nest in more open areas than the thick brushy areas forest managers are improving with fire.
In fact, of 64 nest observed in Mississippi during the spring burning season, only four were spotted in areas scheduled to be burned and only two were actually destroyed by the fire.
While some nests are lost in spring burns, evidence shows that most hens will renest if they lose their first, especially if it happens early in their incubation cycle.
"The improvement to forest health more than makes up for any minor negative impacts on nesting," said Jeff Bien, U.S. Forest Service fire management officer for Homochitto National Forest.
Forest managers on Homochitto normally conduct a third of each year's prescribed burns during the spring growing season while maintaining healthy turkey populations. In fact, burn areas are extremely popular with turkeys.
"We see a lot of birds in recently burned areas," Bien said. "We've even had people who have taken birds in areas that are still smoking."
Biologists also point toward evidence that spring is the historical time for cleansing fires in nature. Before humans interfered, spring lightning storms ignited fires that eliminated brush and opened forests up to new growth. This prevented devastating fires that can destroy forests and enhanced habitat for wildlife.
Today's prescribed fire regimen simulates nature's original forest health plan.
"The use of prescribed fire during the growing season is a win-win situation for wild turkeys," Kennamer said. "I hope this will ease the minds of turkey hunters the next time they smell the smoke of a growing-season fire."
For more information about growing season prescribed fire and its benefits to wildlife, call (800) THE-NWTF.
NWTF Newsletter July 9
JW
