Partners Unveil New Asset to Boost Wildlife Habitat in the Show Me State
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Habitat Association, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring and conserving healthy ecosystems across North America, has teamed up with the National Wild Turkey Federation to bolster the future of wild turkey conservation in Missouri and to support boarder ecosystem enhancements.
Years in the making, the donation from The Habitat Association helped the National Wild Turkey Federation purchase a 7-by-14-foot enclosed trailer, which will serve as a vital asset for habitat management efforts in the Show Me State. Specifically, this trailer will support prescribed fire operations, a key tool in maintaining and improving wild turkey habitat.
“I started working with Brian Gray at NWTF on potential project ideas a few years ago,” said Aaron Warbritton, co-owner of The Hunting Public and board member of The Habitat Association. “He and John Burk [NWTF district biologist] began looking into the prescribed fire trailer, and then The Habitat Association worked collaboratively with NWTF to fund the trailer.”
On Friday, July 18, partners gathered to unveil the new trailer, which features a custom wrap showcasing the logos of the collaborating organizations.
The trailer will be used to transport prescribed fire equipment, increasing the frequency and acreage of burns on both private and public lands across Missouri. Returning fire to these landscapes is crucial for restoring woodlands, glades and forests — creating the essential habitat wild turkey broods need to thrive.
“At The Habitat Association, our mission is to get more habitat on the ground,” Warbritton said. “Research has confirmed that quality habitat plays a key role in sustaining and growing wildlife populations, and we are losing more of it every day. We hope to change that, and this burn trailer is a step in the right direction!”
The unit will be stationed with the Twin Rivers Prescribed Burn Association in eastern Missouri, further strengthening the state’s expanding network of conservationists committed to responsible land management.
Prescribed Burn Associations were first established in Missouri in 2015 with support from NWTF grants, local Quail Forever chapters and the Missouri Department of Conservation. These associations bring landowners together in a "neighbor helping neighbor" model, providing access to equipment, training and manpower to conduct prescribed burns effectively.
“The Prescribed Burn Association development has exploded in Missouri over the last three years,” Burk said. “We started with just four in existence, and now we’re nearing 20 statewide, bringing us close to full state-wide coverage.”
With this investment, The Habitat Association and the NWTF continue to advance conservation efforts, ensuring a healthier future for wild turkeys and their habitats across Missouri.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.