Fire Management

Fire has always been an important ecological driver in the Indian Prairie region of Florida. The natural fire return frequency was probably every 2-3 years, and most of these fires would have occurred in summer due to high fuel loads and frequent lightning strikes. Fire is an important management tool for both improved and native pastures. Most prescribed fires occur in winter (Jan-Feb), which is the opposite of the natural burn cycle.  Ranchers burn in winter is because burning encourages regrowth of native grasses, which can provide high quality forage in winter and early spring. Growing season (i.e. summer) burns can improve the composition of native grasses which are adapted to the natural burn cycle.  We are currently experimenting with different seasons of burning at Buck Island Ranch to examine the effects of different burns on forage availability and quality as well as the species composition of native areas. Burning improved pasture helps remove built up thatch and encourages regrowth of high quality forage.