Helping Animals and Plants
From The Bugwood Network
Prescribed burning is highly recommended for wildlife habitat management where loblolly, shortleaf, longleaf, or slash pine is the primary overstory species. Periodic fire tends to favor understory species that require a more open habitat. A mosaic of burned and unburned areas tends to maximize "edge effect" which promotes a large and varied wildlife population. Deer, dove, quail, and turkey are game species that benefit from prescribed fire.
Habitat preferences of several endangered species, including the Florida panther, gopher tortoise, indigo snake, and red cockaded woodpecker are also enhanced by burning. Wildlife benefits from burning are substantial. For example, fruit and seed production is stimulated. Yield and quality increases occur in herbage, legumes, and browse from hardwood sprouts. Openings are created for feeding, travel, and dusting.
Selecting the proper size, frequency, and timing of burns is crucial to the successful use of fire to improve wildlife habitat. Prescriptions should recognize the biological requirements (such as nesting times) of the preferred wildlife species. Also consider the vegetative condition of the stand and, most importantly, the changes fire will produce in understory stature and species composition.