Wildlife habitat in Michigan’s core elk range is getting a boost thanks to a multi-year effort by RMEF and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to restore hundreds of acres through prescribed burns across multiple counties. Fire is a natural process key to keeping the area’s upland shrub, grassland, aspen, oak and pine barrens healthy. Without it, flora becomes overgrown, invasive plants move in and heavily browsed tree and shrub species have a harder time regenerating.
Prescribed burns safely remove excess biomass, kill invasive species and rejuvenate grasses and shrubs. As a bonus, the burns create openings that help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire on the landscape.
MDNR has burned more than 1,200 acres to date with more planned for the future. Elk, deer, turkeys, songbirds, raptors, reptiles and small mammals all benefit. In addition, the burns help keep elk on public land, reducing conflicts on neighboring private agricultural lands. RMEF contributed $100,000 to the project.