Prescribed Fire

Prescribed fire is often recommended as a tool to open up or thin woody vegetation typical of the Cross Timbers. More open timber may increase plant diversity for wildlife and forage for cattle. This article presents the results of ten years of prescribed fire on woody vegetation.

Burning, grazing, and rest are generally the most powerful tools for managing local wildlife habitats. It may seem simple to light a match, stock some cattle, or erect a fence, but accomplishing specific habitat management goals with these tools requires considerable study and management. This article addresses some fundamentals of prescribed burning.