‘Prescriptive burns’ affect wildlife while improving habitat

“Prescriptive burn” – what does that mean?  It’s something I first heard about last month, then checked into it and got some questions answered.  Now that I’ve seen it happen (from a distance), I thought you might want to know about it too.

The purpose of prescribed burning is for the Mercer County Park Commission to manage invasive species and promote a habitat with more native plants.  It involves fire engines at the ready, with trained Forest Fire Service (FFS) officials and their team managing the process, as well as the widespread smell and noise of a fire and heavy smoke rising over burning, blackening fields. 

Cycling last summer, I saw a deer standing neck-high in grasses near the middle of one such field.  At first I thought it was one of those metal animals some farmers use as deterrents, but no, this was a real-deal deer.

House Sparrow

That particular field is flat and black today, with no protective foliage to offer.

My Q&A exchange with the county’s director of stewardship yielded information worth knowing.  I’ve condensed and paraphrased below.

Q – What about the animal inhabitants of the areas to be burned?  What’s being done to assure they escape the burn and find habitat afterwards?

A – Research indicates that wildlife experience a high survival rate.  The fire is loud and typically moves at a pace allowing wildlife occupants time to hide in a burrow, run or fly off – before moving back quite quickly, since mammal tunnels and burrows are not ruined during a burn.  Many acres of grassland nearby won’t be burned this year and spring growth of plants in burned areas is greater than non-burned locations.

Q – Is there any kind of noise/horn/siren that could be sounded before the burn starts to alert animals or even start them moving out?

Field Mouse

A – Beyond the FFS vehicles and crew that are actively moving about the area before igniting, and the loud sounds the fire itself then creates, we don’t have a method to preemptively warn wildlife.  

Q --  You mentioned a “high survival rate,” which means that not all wildlife survive the burn.  I’d like wildlife to realize the same outcome as would be the goal for human lives.  Why not?

A – Wildlife managers have used fire since the 1930s to improve habitat conditions.  The overall impact on wildlife populations is minimal.  Fire will kill a few individuals but not entire populations.  And the long-term effects of prescribed fire on our wildlife populations is beneficial, from insects to small mammals and birds.  https://tinyurl.com/npmekxdd

Wrong baby elephant!

In my last post I used a photo of a young elephant from my file because I couldn’t get a still pic of Endoto from the terrific video I linked to.  But you’ve got to see Endoto himself, as he gradually bonds with other orphan baby elephants.  So here’s that link again -- please watch the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyYjokvbuzY

Definitely the list to avoid

Coyote

A graphic recently shared by the Humane Society of the US shows the six most trophy hunted animals in the US – a list that no survival-oriented animal wants to be  part of!  At the top: black bears.  At the bottom: foxes.  And in between: coyotes, mountain lions, wolves, bobcats.    

Not all six are found in New Jersey, but four are, and they’re watched over by the Animal Protection League of NJ: black bears, coyotes, bobcats and foxes.

Just one more reason to support the Animal Protection League of  New Jersey (www.aplnj.org), the organization that for more than 35 years has advocated and fought for animal welfare here.

 

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