(Area) The window is here for the Iowa DNR’s prescribed burning at select wildlife management areas.
Controlled burns are a common method to keep unwanted growth out of natural resource areas. “They start those late in March and try to get them complete during April ahead of any nesting season from ground nesting birds like pheasant and quail. You’ll see some prescribed burns taking place on those wildlife management areas.”
Bryan Hayes with the Iowa DNR Office in Lewis says there are a number of advantages. “It’s the best technique they have for improving habitat on large numbers of acres. Some prescribed burns are targeting invasive plants or restoring and maintaining native plant communities. Prescribed burns allow them to impact a large number of acres for the amount of manpower they have.”
Burning usually takes place every 4-5 years to avoid a native area getting taken over by trees. “Like your willows and cedars and elm trees. Prescribed burning can set that succession back, keep those lands native plants and native grasses and improve the quality of the habitat.”
Hayes says a lot of work has been done to Meadow Lake in Adair County to reclaim habitat. Wildlife management areas, state parks, and public hunting areas all conduct burning in the spring.