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Spring Prairie Burns

Winter 2002-2003 Newsletter

This time of year, most of us begin to yearn for spring. For some of us, the anticipation takes on an unusual bent. We look forward to the spring prairie- burning season.

Besides enjoying the pyrotechnic display that accompanies a good grass fire, why in the world would one want to burn a prairie? The short answer is that prairies are a fire-dependent ecosystem.

Prairies need fire for their long-term health and survival. Before Euro- Americans arrived on the continent, prairies were burned from fires started accidentally by lightening strikes or on purpose by Native Americans. The Indians use fire as a tool to drive game (especially bison), create better grasslands for game, protect villages and camps, and to make travel easier.

Even today, hill prairies remain on some of the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River that are believed to have been burned by Native Americans to optimize the use as lookouts.

Prairies are a mixture of warm-season grasses (like Big Bluestem and Indian
Grass) and forbs or wildflowers (like Blazing Star and Gentian).

Burning a Prairie tends to rejuvenate it; more plants flower, produce seed, and are generally more robust following a burn. In addition, fire stimulates some prairie seeds to germinate, sets back competing cool-season grasses and weeds, and helps control the invasion of woody plants.

In the absence of fire, prairies eventually become overgrown with trees. Prairies are a fire-dependent ecosystem and beautiful. Take time to visit one this summer.