By Seth Owens

North Dakota’s vast prairies, home to diverse flora and fauna, are vital ecosystems for wildlife, agriculture, and ranching. Yet maintaining the health and biodiversity of these prairies is a constant challenge, especially when invasive species threaten to dominate their diversity. One proven method for revitalizing and preserving prairie lands is the use of prescribed burns.

Prescribed burns are carefully planned and controlled fires that are intentionally ignited to manage ecosystems. In North Dakota’s prairies, they are particularly valuable in areas that haven’t been burned for three or more years, where low plant diversity, a thick layer of thatch, and invasive species have become significant concerns.

Prairies with limited plant diversity, especially in terms of forbs (flowering plants), need fire and disturbance to provide adequate habitat and food sources for wildlife. A diverse plant population is essential for supporting various species and maintaining ecosystem health. Over time, a layer of thatch can accumulate in prairies, hindering new plant growth by blocking sunlight and preventing moisture from reaching the seedbed. This limits the germination of dormant seeds. Additionally, invasive species like Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and woody brush and shrubs can quickly outcompete native vegetation, disrupting the ecosystem’s natural balance.

Prescribed burns offer several benefits in addressing these challenges in North Dakota’s prairies. By burning away thatch and reducing the density of invasive species, prescribed burns create open spaces in the understory. This allows more sunlight and moisture to reach the seedbed, promoting the germination of dormant seeds that may have been in the soil for decades. Native grasses and forbs benefit from prescribed burns, as they have evolved with fire as a natural part of their life cycle. These plants quickly recover and thrive in the post-fire environment, gaining a competitive edge over invasive species. As native species flourish following prescribed burns, plant diversity in the area increases. This enhanced plant diversity offers a variety of food sources for both wildlife and cattle, akin to providing a well-rounded diet.

Prescribed burns offer numerous advantages for wildlife. They rejuvenate prairie vegetation, restoring critical habitat for a wide range of wildlife species, including birds, insects, and mammals. The increased plant diversity resulting from prescribed burns provides a broader range of food sources for herbivorous wildlife, contributing to a healthier and more robust wildlife population. Ground-nesting birds, such as grouse, partridge, quail, and pheasants, rely on open prairie habitats with balanced thatch cover for nesting, and prescribed burns create suitable nesting sites for these species.

Cattle and livestock also benefit from prescribed burns. The increased plant diversity resulting from prescribed burns offers a wider array of forage options for cattle, enhancing the nutritional value of their diet. Additionally, prescribed burns help control invasive species that compete with valuable forage plants, improving the quality of grazing lands and increasing overall grazing land productivity.

In conclusion, prescribed burns play a vital role in managing and preserving North Dakota’s prairies. They effectively address issues like low plant diversity, thatch accumulation, and invasive species by opening up the understory, promoting native species’ growth, and increasing plant diversity. These benefits, in turn, have positive ripple effects for both wildlife and cattle, making prescribed burns a valuable conservation tool in preserving the health and vitality of North Dakota’s prairie ecosystems. By employing this approach, we can ensure that these precious landscapes continue to thrive for generations to come.

Seth Owens is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and the Education and Outreach Coordinator for North Dakota Pheasants Forever.

Featured Photo: Prescribed burns, carried out by professionals in controlled conditions, help improve habitat for pheasants and other wildlife. DEO Photo by ND PF/Seth Owens