Using Fire to Benefit Wildlife

Using Fire to Benefit Wildlife. . This freshwater wetland is a productive wildlife habitat. Scattered ponds diverse vegetation offer water, food, and shelter for countless birds and other wildlife. If left untended however, the marsh will become clogged with a few species of invasive perennial plants. To preserve this ecosystem, the Fish and Wildlife Service uses a variety of management tools., One the most effective tools is prescribed burning – the planned application of controlled fire, under appropriate condition, for specific purposes. Here, burning is used to eliminate invasive and exotic perennial such as cattails, cut-grass species, and rattle-bush. Annual plants soon colonize the bare soil and yield seeds of higher value to wildlife. Burning also removes tons of dry, dead vegetation that could fuel a destructive wildfire.