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Prescribed Fire for Forest Management Series

Prescribed Fire and Game Species

May 1, 2024

Dr. Jones and Dr. Lashley​ discussed ways prescribed burning for forest management can impact game species, such as deer, wild ​turkey,​​ ruffed grouse, and woodcock.

PRESENTER

Benjamin C. Jones, Ph.D.

President and CEO, Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society

Ben is CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society, an organization engaged in forest and wildlife management for over 60 years. Prior to coming to RGS in 2018, Ben was Chief of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Habitat Division, where he also served as the agency’s Fire Program Manager. He has been an advocate for fire use in habitat management for two decades. His primary interests are impacts of land management practices on wildlife, and the use of forest management to improve wildlife habitat. Ben holds a Ph.D. in Forestry & Wildlife Science from the University of Tennessee, an M.S. in Wildlife Ecology from Mississippi State, and a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries with a Forest Science minor from Penn State.

Marcus Lashley​, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, UF D.E.E.R. Lab, Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, University of Florida

Dr. Marcus Lashley is an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Extension Wildlife Specialist in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida. Dr. Lashley is co-hosts and produces the Wild Turkey ScienceFire University, and Natural Resources University podcasts. He also develops content for numerous social media platforms and a free comprehensive online prescribed fire training program. In this presentation, Dr. Lashley will cover fire effects on white-tailed deer and wild turkey habitat requirements, fire effects on animal behavior as it relates to forest regeneration, and barriers to implementing prescribed fire to achieve wildlife and forest management objectives.

MODERATOR

Tommy Gunn

Great Lakes Oak Ecosystem Forester, American Bird Conservancy

Tommy graduated from Southern Illinois University studying Forestry and has worked as a Forester for The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, for the Colorado State Forest Service, and has also worked as a consulting forester. In Tommy’s role with ABC, he works in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as a forester for the Oak Ecosystem Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). He provides technical knowledge and assistance to private landowners, foresters, and partners, improving oak ecosystems to benefit focal bird species. He brings his background as firefighter on wildfires and controlled burns throughout the Midwest and western US to the conservation work he does today.​​

Additional Resources

Continuing Education

This webinar has been pre-approved for the following:

If you are watching the recorded session and need continuing education credit, you must be registered for the series AND verify you watched the recorded session​. 

Certificates of completion are available by emailing wfc@uwsp.edu. Certificates will be emailed to you within 7-10 business days.

Resources

Prescribed Fire and Game Species by Dr. Benjamin C. Jones

Fire is a Game Changer by Dr. Marcus Lashley

IFAS Extension Prescribed Fire Training / CESRxFire

Wild Turkey Science podcast with Dr. Marcus Lashley & Dr. Will Gulsby

Fire University podcast, part of Natural Resources University

Dr. Disturbance Wild Turkey Science YouTube channel

UF D.E.E.R. Lab YouTube channel

Food Plots, Feed or Fire: The Real Costs per Pound of Deer Forage – Article by Dr. Marcus Lashley and Jordan Nanney, January 18, 2023, National Deer Association

 

Evaluation

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