From staff reports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, announced plans to conduct fall-prescribed fires on Allegheny National Forest in Forest and Elk counties, which will occur after Monday.
Fire management staff, in consultation with forest resource specialists, have identified wildlife habitat management goals for a 23-acre burn of the newly created Savannah in the Grouse Garden Unit located east of Loleta, within Millstone Township.
They also identified oak ecosystem restoration and management goals for a 12-acre burn northeast of East Hickory in Hickory Township. The 12-acre burn is a continuation of spring’s 700-acre burn of the Izenbrown Unit.
Periodic prescribed fires, the Forest Service said, are necessary to reduce competing vegetation, recycle soil nutrients and stimulate the increased production of acorns, blueberries, blackberries and other mast crops.
Wildlife species, such as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, butterflies, songbirds, grouse, snakes and turtles use burned areas for cover, warming and a place to raise their young, the Forest Service said. Prescribed fires also reduce hazardous fuels, which can lead to uncontrolled wildfires.
