Prescribed fire is the primary management tool used to help wintering whooping cranes at Aransas. Since the 1980’s, Aransas has been burning several units annually on the Blackjack Peninsula and Matagorda Island for the cranes. The Refuge fire program had made great progress in recent years renovating upland pastures that had become overrun with brush. Management tools used were rollerchopping and conducting summer prescribed burns.

Prescribed Fire Objectives:

• Maintain and restore coastal savannah and improve habitats
• Improve acorn and other forage opportunities for endangered whooping cranes, other migratory birds and native wildlife