“Jill, we’ve had many forest fires in Wyoming this year. What are the benefits of fires to habitats and wildlife?”
Forest fires are generally good for plant communities and the wildlife that depends on them. Plant life begins regrowing within weeks of a fire and these new plants are found to have higher protein content than adjacent unburned plants. Some plants, such as aspen, actually depend on periodic fires to remove the competition of conifer trees. When conifers are removed, aspen will vigorously resprout and begin to provide vital food resources for species such as mule deer and elk. Aspen provides critical habitat for many species of wildlife in the form of both food and cover. Unfortunately, it is estimated that we have lost over half of the historic aspen stands found in the Rocky Mountain West due to fire suppression over the past century. While we humans may think a burned forest is unsightly, or even decimated, it generally signals rebirth of the plant community which is a welcome sight for most wildlife. Better summer forage as a result of fires playing their natural role in the ecosystem can result in more fat accumulation on does and cows which generally results in more young successfully joining the herd in future years.
Jill Randall Terrestrial Habitat Biologist
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