Question

Role of fire in grassland against invasive species

Answer 1

These fires often burn hot enough to kill most of the shrubs, and in wind-blown conditions they can consume thousands of acres in very short order. Once burned, sensitive shrubs like big sagebrush can take a decade to return, while bitterbrush (a plant vital for many wildlife species for winter food and cover) may not come back for a generation. Depending on the intensity of the fire, grasses like blue-bunch wheatgrass can bounce back in one or two growing seasons. Others like Idaho fescue may not return for many years if burned down to the roots.