We have all seen the devastation caused by the recent wildfires in southern Oklahoma and northern Texas. Several hundred thousand acres have burned in the past few months, decreasing the available forage for livestock and wildlife. Unfortunately, with the current lack of moisture, the effects of these fires are amplified.

Areas burned by the wildfires may currently look like barren wasteland, but, with much-needed precipitation, they will soon be areas of lush new growth. Both livestock and wildlife will benefit from this new growth. Wildlife — such as deer, bobwhite quail, and turkey — will thrive in recently burned areas this spring. The animals will be drawn in by the increase in plant diversity and by the increased palatability of most plant species. Forbs will provide an increased food source for insects, which young turkeys and quail need to survive for the first few months of their lives. Over time, grass can grow thick and become of little or no nutritional value to cattle. Bobwhite quail chicks will leave the nest 24 hours after hatching, so imagine being the size of a human thumb and trying to navigate through thick stands of grass that cattle refuse to eat. Fire opens these areas up, allowing young chicks access to insects. Deer are able to utilize the new growth from trees, brush and forb growth generated by the disturbance caused by the fire. The removal of thick underbrush can also be an attribute to habitat management, causing new growth of many forest-dwelling plants.

The removal of undesirable plants, such as Eastern red cedar, is beneficial to wildlife and landowners. Large stands of cedar trees can cause an area to become void of wildlife and have little to no forage value to livestock. These areas can be costly to remove.

Wildfires are destructive and dangerous. However, they do have benefits. Remember the fire in Yellowstone National Park?  The years that followed were green and lush with new growth. The areas here that are now black will some day be green again.

Steven Smith
Wildlife Specialist