BHNF planning prescribed fires to address overcrowded ecosystems

As the climate warms the northward march of Eastern red cedar adds habitat for songbirds but is explosively flammable so to little surprise for anyone the grassland fire danger index will near the extreme category today for much of Kristi Noem's failed red state and the Black Hills National Forest is as dry as it's been for decades.

When the Custer Expedition came through the Black Hills in 1874 bringing invasive cheatgrass for their horses stands of ponderosa pine were sparsely scattered but a century and a half of poor ranching and land management practices have created an unnatural overstory best controlled by the mountain pine beetle, prescribed fires and periodic wildfires. The bug is hard at work clearing centuries of overgrowth throughout the Rocky Mountain Complex, so is the western spruce budworm. But leaving dead and dying conifers on the forest produces methane, an even more dangerous greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide is.

“We’re continuing the use of prescribed fire to enhance wildlife habitat and increase public safety,” said Shea Koch, Mystic Fuels Technician, Black Hills National Forest. “Without prescribed fire, forest ecosystems can become overcrowded and contribute to extreme wildfires through the buildup of combustible materials on forest floors.” [Prescribed Fires Planned Next Week in Southern & Central Black Hills]

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) berries are a crucial, high-energy winter food source for over 50 bird species, particularly serving as a staple for migrating cedar waxwings, American robins, and bluebirds. These blue, waxy, berry-like cones are highly sought after by flocks of birds, providing essential nutrients during cold months. Learn more at AgWeek.

Some Black Hills residents near Custer are concerned with the results of recent government-backed logging program.https://t.co/2oFdd3pCYJ

— SDPB News (@SDPBNews) November 5, 2023