Harnessing fire for wildlife

Abstract

On a dry afternoon in September of 2007 the “Moonlight Fire” started in a northeastern California mixed-conifer forest that had been accumulating fuels for over a century. Twelve days later the fire was contained after burning 65,000 acres, destroying seven structures, injuring 34 firefighters, and costing $32 million. Much of the forest within the fire perimeter had not been treated to reduce fuels because the area contained 22 protected areas set aside as habitat for two threatened species, the spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) and northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). A year after the fire, one lone male spotted owl remained within those charred 65,000 acres.

Citation

North, Malcolm; Stine, Pete; Zielinski, William; O’Hara, Kevin; Stephens, Scott. 2010. Harnessing Fire for Wildlife. Wildlife Professional, Spring 2010. Vol 4(1): 30-33