Fire, whether natural or induced, has been a natural part of the ecology of southern pine and mixed pine/hardwood forests for hundreds, if not thousands of years. So much so that many species have become adapted to and are dependent on periodic fires for their survival. Therefore, when properly applied, prescribed fire can produce a positive overall impact on these forest types.

Heralded as one of the most beneficial and cost-effective management tools available to natural resource managers, prescribed fire has been used as a wildlife management tool here in the South since the early 1900s. Today, contemporary wildlife biologists and forest managers use prescribed fire to improve habitat for wildlife as well as improve growing conditions for many southern species of pines.

The effects of prescribed fire on wildlife are mainly indirect and pertain to changes in food resources and available cover. When applied correctly, fire increases quantity and quality of many soft masts and browse while also promoting greater legume and forb production. Indirectly, prescribed fire increases insect populations which are drawn to the new lush vegetation that appears after a burn. Many species of wildlife, especially young turkey poults and quail chicks, utilize these insects.

From a timber management standpoint, prescribed fire, when properly applied, promotes tree growth by controlling woody competition and recycling vital nutrients back into the soil. Removing woody competition also helps in accessing a stand during timber harvesting operations and aids in reducing the threat of wildfires, one of the main goals of President Bush's Healthy Forests Initiative.

When planning a burn, it is usually a good management practice to perform the initial burn during the period of December through February. The burn should be conducted under low ambient air temperatures (<60°F), moderate relative humidity (35 to 45 percent) and a moderate wind (10 to 15 mph). When burning, care should be used to avoid smoke sensitive areas such as roads, schools, homes and hospitals. It is also a good idea to contact your local fire department and let them know of your burn. To help with the burn and to reduce liabilities, oversight of all burning should be administered by someone who is a Certified Burn Manager in Mississippi. To find a Certified Burn Manager in your area, contact your local Mississippi Forestry Commission Office (MFC) or visit their website at www.mfc.state.ms.us.

After the initial burn, subsequent burns may be conducted on a 3- to 4-year frequency in early spring following hardwood “leaf-out” to better control hardwoods and encourage the growth of preferred browse for wildlife. Many grasses and browse will respond to fire with lush re-growth. This re-growth is very palatable and highly nutritious and will be readily utilized by many species of wildlife.

Associated with prescribed burning, wide fire lines (greater than 12 feet) should be created and maintained annually. Fire lines not only aid in conducting prescribed burns and preventing wildfires, but they also serve as permanent openings, transition zones between different habitat types and access points to the stands. Fire line maintenance by disking promotes the growth of different plant species depending on the time of year of the soil disturbance. Winter disking, which is the most beneficial, promotes the growth of native plant species such as partridge pea and beggerslice. Fire lines can also be utilized in the winter months for food plots by planting an agricultural crop for winter forage such as winter wheat, oats and/or clovers. When mowing is used to maintain fire lines, it should be conducted during the months of September through February to avoid disturbing ground nesting birds such as quail and turkeys.

There are many cost-share programs available to assist with the costs associated with prescribed burning. Programs such as the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) offer cost-share assistance for burning. WHIP is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (www.nrcs.usda.gov). The MFC offers cost-share assistance through the Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) and other programs for prescribed burning. For more information on these programs or others, contact the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation at (662) 256-4486 or dcoggin@wildlifemiss.org. You can also visit the Foundation’s website at www.wildlifemiss.org.

Daniel Coggin is a Field Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Amory, Mississippi.