NWTF and KDFWR Boost Early Successional Habitat in the Bluegrass State

The Kentucky NWTF State Chapter is helping fund numerous projects in the Bluegrass State that contribute to the NWTF's Habitat for the Hatch Initiative, helping increase overall nesting and brood-rearing habitat for wild turkeys within an 18-state region.

One of the standout projects recently completed in Kentucky was the land management in Harrison County’s Griffith Woods WMA. This endeavor involved the creation of vital firebreaks around the perimeter of two new burn units, or areas that require prescribed fire to maintain optimal conditions for wild turkeys and other wildlife species.

With NWTF funds, the department was able to rent a dozer and skid steers outfitted with forestry mulchers and grapples to install over four miles of firebreaks encompassing 180 acres.  

"Installing firebreaks is a critical component of prescribed burning operations," said Derek Alkire, NWTF district biologist for Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee. "While preventing fire from spreading outside of the burn unit is one of the main reasons we use firebreaks, they also allow for easier travel around the burn unit and make implementing burns and maintaining burn units easier for land managers."

The recently installed firebreaks surround two new burn units that, once a fire regimen is implemented, will provide the early successional habitat that wild turkeys need. After a prescribed fire burns dense woody vegetation and other undesirable species, such as bush honeysuckle and Callery pear, it opens the canopy with more sunlight and also stimulates the native grasses and forbes in the seed bank. This newly disturbed land leads to a vigorously growing young forest, which provides excellent food and cover for wild turkeys, especially for nesting and brood-rearing hens.

Additionally, this project is helping the department restore the area to its historic blue ash-oak, savanna-woodland community, which is characterized by vast early successional habitat interspersed with mature hardwoods.

"Plans are in place to keep this habitat management project going with the goal to restore the savanna unit and maintain the existing upland areas with fire, additional mechanical removal of undesirable woody vegetation and follow-up herbicide treatments as necessary," said Ethan Newman, KDFWR regional wildlife biologist. "On behalf of KDFWR, we want to express our gratitude to NWTF for supporting this project at Griffith Woods WMA and for trusting us to steward their resources well."

The Griffith Woods WMA project is one of 11 projects the Kentucky NWTF State Chapter is funding for the 2024 fiscal year. With collaborative partner funding, the state chapter's investment will be leveraged to over $2.6 million, enhancing more than 2,500 acres of wildlife habitat and funding wild turkey research in the Bluegrass State.