(Madison) The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has recently announced they will be conducting prescribed burns throughout the southern half of the state.
Wisconsin has a rich history of periodic burns conducted by tribal citizens for land and wildlife management across the state.
Many plant communities in the state including prairie, wetland, oak/pine barens and oak savanna adapted over one thousand years to fire and would now cease to exist in their ideal state without fire.
The burns are conducted for the health of these ecosystems and mimic the natural benefits that fire historically provided. These benefits include removing invading brush, decreasing dead grass and leaf litter, and promoting the growth of native fire-dependent vegetation.
The DNR asks that the public stay away from these burns and they will notify local law enforcement and fire departments when they are being conducted.
A link to historic, current, and planned prescribed burns is available HERE. A link to more information on prescribed burning is available HERE.
