Managing the Habitat: Meeting
the Different Needs of Wildlife
Fires were common on the prairies before settlement. Today, prescribed fire helps restore native grasses and wildflowers, reduce and control nonnative plant species, slow the invasion of grasslands by woody species, and control cattails in wetlands. Prescribed fires also can reduce hazardous fuels and the threats of wildfires.
Cooperative farming and haying are used selectively on previously cropped areas. A mixture of grass and alfalfa is planted to provide nesting cover for waterfowl, bobolinks, sedge wrens, and other species.
Grazing is also used to manage the native prairie. Short-term grazing is used to keep the prairie healthy. This is important to provide good habitat for ground nesting birds.
