Prescribed Fire at Patuxent Research Refuge

Fire Truck at Patuxent Research Refuge

Personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a series of prescribed burns on Patuxent National Wildlife Research Refuge lands in March 2007. Burns occurred near and around the National Wildlife Visitor Center located off of Powder Mill Road, south of Laurel; and on the north tract portion of the refuge located off of MD-198, east of Laurel. Burns were conducted on small areas of grassland habitat for management, restoration and biological research. According to refuge manager Brad Knudsen, "Research indicates that controlled burning has many benefits over other habitat management practices.  Fire helps control undesirable exotic plants, maintains grassland habitat for nesting birds and small mammals, promotes wild flowers and other native plants, reduces the accumulation of organic debris and releases nutrients back into the soil.  The use of prescribed fire will support Patuxent's unique role as a research refuge by allowing scientists to study the effect of fire on a variety of refuge habitats."  Prescribed burns are authorized under Patuxent Research Refuge's Prescribed Fire Plan which was made available for public review and was approved by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials in 2001.