Prescribed Fire as a Natural Resource Management Tool Local eagle population threatened

The destructive nature of fire justifiably stokes fear in most. Fires ruin homes and barns, entire forests, and millions of acres of grasslands. It’s counterintuitive to think land managers utilize fire as a natural resource management tool.

Historically, fire has been an important part of the development and integrity of grasslands and forests. For thousands of years, wildfires kept prairies free of trees and periodically cleared the landscape. These fires were either caused by lightning or intentionally set by Native Americans. By controlling the woody vegetation, the fruit-bearing shrubs and forage benefitted.

Land managers in recent decades have assessed landscape management strategies and promote controlled burns as an effective land management tool. Fire in a grassland ecosystem can help maintain its health and vigor. It warms the soil and reduces the leaf litter that accumulates each year, allowing sunlight to penetrate, and stimulating growth. Fire also acts as a fertilizer, replenishing nutrients in the soils while removing undesirable weeds and stunting tree encroachment.

Similarly, controlled burns in forests reduce fuel loads and curb the threat of large-scale forest fires. Prescribed fire in forests is also used to promote oak regeneration or reduce the spread of invasive species, pests and diseases.

In 2017 Oceana Conservation District began promoting and planting grassland and prairie vegetation to create habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. According to the Conservation District’s management guidelines, mowing is the primary tool for controlling weeds the first two years after planting. Mowing prevents the weeds from shading out the native species and also prohibits the weeds from setting new seed into the soil.

Burning the third year, and on a regular basis in future years, is the most effective tool to manage the weeds and stimulate new growth. Only experienced, trained crews should perform the prescribed burn and appropriate burn permits must be acquired. A wide path (10-15 feet) around the perimeter of the native planting, called a burn lane, acts as a firebreak and should be kept mowed throughout the growing season. Biologists recommend a three-year burn rotation in which one-third of the area is burned per year, a strategy that protects overwintering butterflies, moths, as well as early nesting birds.

To learn more about prescribed fire, join USDA-NRCS Technical Service Provider and experienced Burn Boss Steve Cross for a comprehensive prescribed fire workshop. Learn how and why prescribed fire is used as a natural resource management tool—to enhance critical habitat for wildlife, suppress invasive species, and stimulate growth in our forests and grasslands. Steve Cross will share detailed information on how to conduct a prescribed fire including ways to avoid the potential for large-scale wildfires. He will also offer his services as a burn boss for any interested parties. Visit the events page on the District’s website to register for the Prescribed Fire Workshop on Friday, March 3.

Michigan is home to the sixth largest bald eagle population in the United States. Sharing the woodlands and lakes with our nation’s bird is a privilege, and sightings excite residents and visitors alike. While our eagles are awe-inspiring, these raptors are also extremely vulnerable to human activities. Eagles have moved farther from their preferred waterside habitats due to urbanization near rivers and lakes. As a result, less of their diet has come from the water and more of it has been scavenged from the ground level. Consequently, there is an increasingly concerning issue threatening Michigan’s eagle population: lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning is currently the leading cause of bald eagle deaths in the state after vehicular trauma, according to research conducted by US Fish and Wildlife Service and Michigan DNR. Toxic exposure to lead in eagles and other raptors has been correlated with hunting season, as lead-based products are currently the most commonly used ammunition. When lead bullets are used, that bullet often shatters into fragments inside the animal. Through the ingestion of gut piles or unrecovered carcasses contaminated with spent ammunition, eagles consume deadly amounts of lead whilst scavenging. Even at very low levels of exposure, birds show signs of toxicity including gastrointestinal dysfunction, neurological impairment, paralysis, seizures, and death.

Hunting is a great conservation tool and a beloved recreational pastime, so what can we do to limit the negative impact on our local raptor population next hunting season?

If you hunt, consider switching from leadbased ammunition to copper-based. Additionally, if you enjoy fishing, consider alternatives to lead-based tackle.

Replacing ammunition and tackle may come at an expense, but as demand increases the cost differential continues to drop. If you have the means, spending a few extra dollars seems like a fair price to pay to protect the lives of our local bald eagles.

Nature rehabilitators across the country take in bald eagles suffering from lead poisoning. Some are able to be nursed back