Author: Wild Sheep Society of BC
In early Spring, we were able to conduct a second prescribed burn of ~300 ha (741 acres), resulting in a total of 600 ha (~1,500 acres) of habitat and range enhanced for Stone’s sheep in northeastern BC. This site had not been burned for over 30 years and had become overgrown with shrubs, reducing the amount of forage and also the availability of the forage to sheep.
Conditions were ideal to achieve a burn to reduce shrub and aspen encroachment, which will increase forage and allow for sheep to move through the area more easily. Given the dry conditions and fewer natural fire breaks this year, areas burned were carefully selected to maximize benefits to sheep and avoid areas that could result in hot spots and holdovers that could cause problems through the summer.
The fire lasted a few hours and was deemed out less than 2 days post-burn. Target burn areas were focused on sites adjacent to the steep cliffs that sheep use as escape terrain. In addition to meeting habitat objectives, the two burns conducted this spring will reduce fuel loading and therefore minimizing the risk of destructive wildfires.
Thank you to our consultant Alicia Woods of Ridgeline Wildlife Enhancement for leading this project, Northern Burn project coordinator Josh Hamilton and Project Chair Chris Barker. Funding for this burn was provided by the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia, Wild Sheep Foundation, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) and North Peace Rod and Gun Club.
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