Fire on the Delmarva Landscape Fuels Healthy Habitat for the Flock
Across the Northeast, conservation work continues to shape the landscape, and the National Wild Turkey Federation is proud to be part of the effort. The NWTF provided partial funding to The Nature Conservancy’s burn team, which was able to complete several prescribed burns within the Delmarva Peninsula throughout the spring and summer. Over 800 acres were impacted across Delaware and Maryland – 161 acres and 655 acres respectively – on both public and private lands.
“This is a great accomplishment for wild turkey conservation and the Forests and Flocks Initiative,” said Mitch Blake, NWTF district biologist. “Wild turkeys know no boundaries so creating excellent nesting and brood-rearing habitat through prescribed fire at a landscape level will help bolster wild turkey populations across the Delmarva Peninsula.”
At the beginning of the spring, The Nature Conservancy’s burn team conducted its first prescribed burn of the season at TNC's McCabe Preserve in Milton, Delaware, which was an exciting milestone for new crew members, including three individuals who participated in their first prescribed burn.
Throughout the season, the crew worked hard to balance an active schedule of prescribed fire implementation and continual site preparation. In Delaware, TNC partnered with the Delaware Forest Service, who assisted with five prescribed burns on both public and private lands and supported TNC-led burns on three Delaware nature preserves.
In Maryland, the burn crew completed three burns on TNC preserves and assisted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with three burns across wildlife refuges on the Eastern Shore. They also participated in a two-day prescribed fire operation at Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge, supporting landscape-scale conservation efforts in the region.
“…The crew had a highly successful season, gaining valuable professional training and advancement opportunities while helping to restore and maintain critical habitat throughout the region,” said Natasha Whetzel, TNC Delaware stewardship manager. “These burns are advancing forest health, improving wildlife habitat, reducing hazardous fuels and strengthening the region's prescribed fire capacity.”
As TNC crews look ahead, they will continue identifying opportunities to expand the impact of their prescribed fire program and welcome the opportunity for future partnerships.