Voyageurs National Park Plans 2 Prescribed Burns
INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. (AP) -- Voyageurs National Park plans to conduct a pair of prescribed burns on Wednesday.
The sites will be Sheep and Ram Islands in Lake Kabetogama, north of the town of Kabetogema, and park officials are asking boaters to avoid the sites if possible.
Research plots have been established on both islands to study the effects of fire on the vegetation there. Park officials say the information collected will help managers make better decisions on using fire to restore vegetative communities within the park.
Fire is a natural part of the ecosystems of northern Minnesota. Many tree species -- including red and white pine, jack pine, aspen and birch -- require periodic fire to regenerate. Fire also increases the food supply for many wildlife species.
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