Elk NetworkColorado Burns to Improve Wildlife Habitat

Conservation | April 1, 2019

Tis the season of the spring green-up. It’s also a time when prescribed burn projects are planned to enhance forage for elk, deer and other wildlife.

Such activities are scheduled to take place near Eagle, Colorado, about 125 miles west of Denver.

Town officials say prescribed burns in Eagle, Grand and Moffat Counties are designed to reduce pinyon-juniper expansion and help restore sagebrush and ponderosa pine communities. Prescribed fires reduce dense vegetation and other fuels to lower the risk of large wildfires and stimulate new vegetation growth that benefits wildlife.

“We will only ignite these prescribed fires if conditions are ideal for safe, effective burns, as well as for good smoke dispersal away from area communities,” said Toni Toelle, supervisory fire management specialist for the Northwest Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit.

The Bureau of Land Management has worked with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and other wildlife partners to improve big game winter range for elk, deer and bighorn sheep within the project areas.

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