The above photos show the FSPA prairie during and after the prescribed burn.
Last week, FSPA Ecological Assistant Carolyn Johnson helped oversee a prescribed prairie burn on FSPA land on St. Joseph Ridge.
Prescribed burning in the spring removes invasive species, reduces built-up thatch on the ground and returns nutrients to the soil, all of which improve prairie plant health. Prairie plants are well adapted to fires and droughts because their roots can reach up to 15 feet deep, and many prairie seeds require fire to start the germination process. While in many cases fire can be destructive and dangerous, a safe, controlled burn on a prairie allows the soil, plants and wildlife to thrive.