West Texas Rangelands
West Texas RangelandsWe hope to provide a variety of science-based rangeland information and current research on prescribed fire, wildfires, brush management, and grazing management!

Fire and Wildlife: Building Better Habitat on Texas Rangelands

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Guest Collaborator – Mr. Cooper Caswell, Undergraduate Student Angelo State University 

Fire has historically been a threat to wildlife; however, it is a widely proven fact that one of the most beneficial tools available in Texas rangelands to create improved wildlife habitat is the use of prescribed fire. Natural wildfires and fire utilized by Indigenous peoples created grassland habitat for millennia before the widespread practice of fire suppression and removed encroaching woody species, recycled nutrients, and stimulated grass and plant growth-the species on which native wildlife are accustomed to feed. Today, years of fire suppression have permitted the spread of invasive woody species over millions of Texas acres; the result: dense woody cover limits native grass and food production, creating an unsuitable habitat for many species.

Carefully designed prescribed burns bring back open grasslands, a diversity of plant life, and healthy ecosystem support for livestock and wildlife alike.

Benefits of Fire to Wildlife

When managed carefully, a fire seldom kills any wildlife animals directly-they tend to avoid flames or seek refuge in underground burrows, tree roots, or within unburned vegetation. While habitat loss occurs in burned patches temporarily, post-rain regrowth of green, young vegetation encourages insects, small mammals, birds, and larger grazing animals alike. The greatest ecological benefit of a burn is diversity. It creates a mosaic effect of burned and unburned portions of the landscape, providing a mix of food and habitat opportunities to attract and sustain a number of animal species.

Wildlife Responses to Prescribed Fire

Effects vary by species, but fire tends to benefit most species.

Small mammal impacts from the fire itself are generally insignificant, but increases in their availability and a surge in their populations follow as a new bounty of young plants provides an abundance of food. Numerous bird species are especially positively affected by a burn. Bobwhite quail-a grassland bird preferring a diverse mixture of open, shrubby habitats-may feed in recently burned patches, while relying on adjacent woody cover and trees for nesting and roosting opportunities. Wild Turkey may also forage in burned areas but look to the nearby trees for cover. Small songbirds can also benefit from an increase in insects and a more desirable, nutritious habitat for nesting and food. For many large mammals, like white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer, improved habitat is an important benefit of fire.

After a fire, the nutritious green forage regrows rapidly, providing readily available food resources. With nearby areas of remaining trees and shrubs providing food and shelter, edges created between burned and unburned areas become feeding zones and bedding locations. Amphibians and reptiles, so long as appropriate conditions exist at the time of burn, generally tolerate a fire quite well; many research efforts demonstrate a variety of amphibian and reptile species are often maintained or enhanced on fire-managed landscapes.

A prescribed fire needs careful planning. A successful fire utilizes the best timing, weather conditions, vegetation type, soil type, fuel levels, and species of interest to ensure success. Burning rotational segments of a ranch allows ample time for vegetation to recover between burns and for animals to use burned as well as nonburned areas.

The impact of fire multiplies when paired with good livestock grazing management, which encourages and utilizes new grass growth, forcing grazing and allowing remaining vegetation to grow.

Management for Healthy Landscapes

Wildlife habitat fluctuates; management strategies must be in place for productive rangelands. Prescribed burning returns nutrients to the soil, removes fuel for more damaging wildfires, and promotes the growth of productive native vegetation, vital for ecosystem health.

A burn plan combined with a grazing management plan on your property will ensure healthy, diverse, and resilient ecosystems for years to come.

Source: https://agrilife.org/westtexasrangelands/files/2023/08/Effects-of-fire-on-wildlife.pdf

Building Fire Capacity Before the Next Burn: New Continuing Fire Training Course Supports Prescribed Fire Practitioners

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Across Texas, prescribed fire continues to play an important role in rangeland management, wildlife habitat improvement, fuel reduction, and ecosystem health. As the use of prescribed fire expands, so does the need for ongoing training that helps practitioners stay current on regulations, safety considerations, and evolving best management practices.

Building fire capacity requires more than favorable weather and burn objectives. It depends on well-trained practitioners who understand the science, planning, and execution behind successful prescribed fire programs. An updated online continuing fire training course is designed to help prescribed fire practitioners, natural resource professionals, and land managers stay current on best practices while earning six hours of continuing fire training. The course also fulfills continuing education requirements for Texas Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Managers.

Why Continuing Fire Training Matters
Prescribed fire is one of the most effective land management tools available to Texas landowners. When applied under appropriate conditions, fire can help manage brush encroachment, improve forage production, enhance wildlife habitat, reduce wildfire fuel loads, and maintain healthy rangeland ecosystems.

Like any management practice, however, prescribed burning requires planning, preparation, and ongoing professional development. Regulations evolve, new technologies become available, and lessons learned from burn programs across the state continue to improve how practitioners approach fire management.

Continuing education helps ensure prescribed fire practitioners remain informed about current standards while strengthening their ability to safely and effectively apply fire on the landscape.

Training Designed for Real-World Application
One strength of this updated course is its focus on practical topics prescribed fire practitioners encounter in the field. The program covers a range of subjects that support planning, implementation, and risk management throughout the prescribed burn process. Course modules include laws and regulations, smoke management, fuel load estimation, contingency and escape planning, prescribed burn equipment, and mapping a property for prescribed fire.

These topics represent critical components of a successful burn program and provide information that can be applied across a variety of prescribed fire objectives and operating environments.

Strengthening Prescribed Fire Capacity Across Texas
The continued growth of prescribed fire in Texas depends on more than just favorable weather conditions. It requires trained practitioners, informed landowners, and a strong network of professionals who understand both the opportunities and responsibilities associated with using fire as a management tool.

According to Morgan Treadwell, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Professor and Extension Range Specialist, the goal of the course is to provide accessible, relevant training that supports practitioners in the field. Treadwell noted that the course offers science-based information that participants can apply directly to prescribed fire planning and implementation.

This emphasis on practical application aligns with the broader effort to increase prescribed fire capacity across Texas while supporting safe and effective fire use.

Making Professional Development More Accessible
One challenge many fire practitioners face is balancing training requirements with professional and operational responsibilities. Online training options help make continuing education more accessible by allowing participants to complete coursework on their own schedule while still receiving high-quality instruction.

Participants who complete the course receive a certificate of completion and earn six continuing fire training hours recognized by the Texas Department of Agriculture.   For burn managers seeking to maintain certification, as well as natural resource professionals interested in strengthening their understanding of prescribed fire, the course offers a convenient way to stay current while investing in professional development.

Investing in the Future of Good Fire
Effective prescribed fire programs depend on knowledgeable practitioners who understand both the science and application of fire. As Texas continues to address challenges related to woody plant encroachment, wildfire risk, forage management, and ecosystem resilience, continued investment in training will remain an important part of the solution.

Prescribed fire has long been a cornerstone of rangeland stewardship. Building the skills and knowledge of those who use it helps ensure that fire remains a safe, effective, and sustainable management tool for years to come.

Learn More
The updated Continuing Prescribed Fire Training course is available through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The six-hour self-paced course meets continuing fire training requirements for Texas Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Managers and is available for registration at Updated Continuing Fire Training Course.

Burning From the Ground Up: How Prescribed Burn Associations Are Expanding Fire Across the Great Plains

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Prescribed fire has long been one of the most effective tools for managing woody plant encroachment, improving wildlife habitat, enhancing forage production, and reducing wildfire risk. Yet for many landowners, implementing prescribed fire can seem out of reach due to concerns about labor, equipment, experience, liability, and planning requirements.

Across the Great Plains, Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) are helping overcome those barriers through a simple but powerful concept: neighbors helping neighbors. New research published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire demonstrates that these landowner-led organizations are expanding access to prescribed fire, building local capacity, and making meaningful contributions to rangeland stewardship across the United States.

A Movement Built by Landowners
Prescribed Burn Associations first emerged in the Great Plains in the 1990s to help ranchers gain the education, equipment, training, and support needed to safely implement prescribed fire on private lands. Since then, the model has spread nationwide, with more than 140 PBAs now operating across the country.

Unlike traditional top-down approaches, PBAs are community-led organizations that bring together landowners, volunteers, and natural resource professionals to share knowledge, labor, equipment, and experience. These local networks help reduce costs, increase confidence, and provide opportunities for people to gain hands-on experience using prescribed fire.

The impact of these organizations continues to grow. Survey responses from PBAs across the United States showed that associations collectively conduct an average of 660 prescribed burns across 84,508 acres annually, mobilizing thousands of volunteers to restore fire to ecosystems where it has historically been excluded.

Infographic titled "The Structure and Impact of Great Plains Prescribed Burn Associations" showing survey results, statistics on prescribed burns, and information on managing invasive species. [Read more…] about Burning From the Ground Up: How Prescribed Burn Associations Are Expanding Fire Across the Great Plains

Juniper Management on Texas Rangelands

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Article written by Jacob Court
West Texas Rangelands Intern
Graduate Student – Texas A&M University

With the widespread issue of woody encroachment on the Texas rangelands, the proper management of juniper is crucial. Unfortunately, due to overgrazing and poor land management, much of our rangelands have already been taken over by large juniper trees.

Prescribed fire is a great method to manage juniper when it is utilized correctly. One thing to note is that some juniper like Alligator Juniper (J. deppeana) and Redberry Juniper (J. pinchottii) can resprout from a bud bank beneath the surface. These bud banks make plants more resilient to the effects of burning; although fire can help to kill smaller trees, higher-intensity fires can work to kill larger trees. Even so, other management methods may be more effectively used to try and kill these resprouters. For non-resprouting trees, fire is an effective method throughout the early life cycles. Often, conducting growing season fires will help kill seedlings, preventing more growth while also helping to kill any larger trees. Like with the resprouting trees, more intense fire might be necessary for the removal of any larger non-sprouting trees, and the concern of them recovering from that damage is much less.

A great way to create these high-intensity fires is with the cut-and-stuff method. The idea behind this method is to cut branches off (or gather other fuels) and pile them underneath large juniper trees. This creates a continuous ladder of fuel all the way up the tree. Utilizing this method solves both of the two main issues when trying to burn larger trees: a lack of fuel to catch the tree on fire and not having flames long enough to burn the branches. By letting the flames climb this fuel ladder, we can successfully ignite the entire tree, greatly increasing the effectiveness of our prescribed fire. Some more things to consider when trying to burn juniper are waiting for the fuel beneath the tree to dry out so that it ignites and burns more effectively. It’s also important to put the fuel beneath the upwind side of the tree as this allows the majority of the fire to be blown into the main part of the tree instead of away from it.

While prescribed fire is a great method of juniper control, the implementation of grazing alongside burning can increase the overall effectiveness. Goats are especially good in this sense, as they will target the high-quality new growth from these juniper trees post-fire. The idea behind this method is to have fires in an area to kill off large swaths of juniper and then have the goats graze it afterward. Fire will kill the aboveground sections, allowing for new plants to sprout. Then the goats can target these sprouts, preventing any large-scale regrowth from happening. The utilization of pyric herbivory in this manner is cost-effective and will work for a variety of situations. One issue is still the management of the larger and more developed juniper trees. In these cases, chemical or mechanical methods may be the best strategy.

References
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Managing Texas Juniper with Prescribed Burning
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Managing Juniper (Cedar) with Goats
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service- Cut and Stuff Practices for Enhancing Cedar Control with Prescribed Fire

Wildfire Resilience Starts Before the Fire: Lessons from Fire Scientist Jack Cohen

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When headlines focus on record-setting wildfires, the conversation often centers on flame lengths, acres burned, and suppression efforts. While these factors matter, one of the nation’s leading wildfire scientists argues that we may be asking the wrong question.

Instead of asking how to stop every wildfire, Dr. Jack Cohen encourages us to ask how we can better prepare homes, ranches, and communities to withstand them. In a recent interview published in Forest News, Cohen discussed decades of research that have transformed our understanding of wildfire risk and what truly drives losses during wildfire events.

For landowners and producers across Texas, his message is both practical and empowering: wildfire resilience begins long before smoke appears on the horizon.

Rethinking Wildfire Risk
Cohen’s work as a Forest Service fire scientist helped reshape how wildfire professionals think about community losses. According to the interview, his research demonstrated that the ignitability of homes and structures is often the decisive factor in wildfire disasters, rather than the behavior of the wildfire itself.

That idea challenges a common assumption. Many people believe homes are destroyed primarily because a large wildfire directly engulfs them. In reality, homes and infrastructure are often vulnerable because of conditions immediately surrounding the structure. Cohen’s research has helped shift the focus toward creating ignition-resistant homes and fire-adapted communities.

For Texas landowners, this means wildfire preparedness is not solely about what happens across the landscape. It is also about what happens within a few feet of homes, barns, equipment sheds, livestock facilities, and other critical infrastructure.

The Growing Importance of Preparedness
Texas has experienced several significant wildfire events in recent years, including fires that moved quickly across rangelands under extreme weather conditions. As drought, heat, and wind combine to create elevated fire danger, reducing vulnerability before a wildfire occurs becomes increasingly important.

While ranchers cannot control weather conditions, they can influence how prepared their operations are when fire occurs.

Preparation may include:

  • Reducing combustible materials around structures.
  • Maintaining access routes for emergency vehicles.
  • Developing livestock evacuation or relocation plans.
  • Managing fine fuels around homes and working facilities.
  • Identifying water sources and suppression resources.
  • Coordinating with neighbors and local fire departments.

These actions may not prevent a wildfire from occurring, but they can significantly improve an operation’s ability to withstand one.

Fire Is a Natural Part of the Landscape
Another important takeaway from Cohen’s work is the recognition that fire is a natural ecological process. Throughout history, fire has shaped grasslands, woodlands, and forests across North America.

Many Texas ecosystems evolved with periodic fire. Historically, naturally occurring fires and Indigenous burning practices helped maintain healthy plant communities, recycle nutrients, reduce woody encroachment, and create diverse wildlife habitat.

When fire is excluded from fire-adapted landscapes for extended periods, fuels can accumulate. This build-up can contribute to more challenging fire behavior when wildfires eventually occur.

For many landowners, prescribed fire remains one of the most effective tools available for reducing hazardous fuels while maintaining healthy and productive rangelands.

Building Fire-Adapted Communities
Cohen emphasized the importance of creating wildfire-resistant communities rather than relying solely on fire suppression. His research helped influence national programs such as Firewise USA and broader efforts to improve community resilience.

Although much of the national conversation focuses on neighborhoods in forested regions, the same principles apply to rural communities and ranching operations across Texas.

Fire-adapted communities often share several characteristics:

  • Awareness of local fire risk.
  • Coordinated planning among landowners.
  • Regular fuel management.
  • Infrastructure designed to reduce vulnerability.
  • Strong partnerships with local emergency responders.

These efforts help communities prepare for wildfire as an inevitable event rather than treating it as a rare possibility.

What This Means for Texas Ranchers
For producers, wildfire resilience extends beyond protecting homes. Livestock, fences, water infrastructure, hay supplies, equipment, and grazing resources are all vulnerable to wildfire impacts.

A wildfire preparedness plan should consider:

Livestock Management
Identify potential evacuation routes, temporary holding areas, and transportation resources before they are needed.

Infrastructure Protection
Evaluate vulnerable structures and facilities. Simple maintenance actions can reduce fire risk around homes, barns, and equipment storage areas.

Fuel Management
Maintain defensible space around critical infrastructure and consider long-term fuel reduction strategies where appropriate.

Communication
Know how emergency information will be received and shared during a wildfire incident.

Recovery Planning
Think beyond response. Consider how fencing, grazing management, and livestock operations would recover following a wildfire.

Resilience Starts Now
One of the most important lessons from Cohen’s career is that successful wildfire management is not solely measured by fires extinguished. It is also measured by communities that are prepared, landscapes that are resilient, and structures that can survive when wildfire occurs.

For Texas landowners, that is encouraging news. While wildfire is an unavoidable part of many landscapes, there are practical actions that can reduce risk and improve outcomes.

The most effective wildfire response often begins months or even years before the first spark. Whether through fuel management, prescribed fire, preparedness planning, or community collaboration, every step taken today can help create a more resilient tomorrow.

As wildfires continue to shape landscapes across the West, Cohen’s message remains highly relevant: protecting communities starts with making them less vulnerable to ignition in the first place.

Source: “A Conversation With Jack Cohen,” Forest News, Summer 2026, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics.

Wildfire Wisdom: Proven Strategies to Protect Your Property and Livestock

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Article written by Kathryn O’Daniel
West Texas Rangelands Intern and Senior, Texas A&M University

Wildfires can start easily and spread rapidly under the correct conditions. High winds, dry conditions, and high fuel amounts can cause wildfires to spread across long distances, causing immense damage. As a landowner, it is imperative that your rangeland is protected from possible cases of wildfire ignition and spread.

Historically, fires were common; however, after European settlement, fires were greatly suppressed, causing high fuel loads. These high fuel loads cause wildfires to be a real threat to landowners. It is important to learn how to protect against wildfires, one of which is structural protection. Consider the materials for your buildings to be the first defense in your structural protection. Stay away from any highly flammable wood because it often becomes extremely dry, causing rapid ignition from embers. Instead, consider asphalt shingles or a metal roof and steel siding. Additionally, ensure there are no accumulations of fuel around the buildings to reduce the chance of material igniting. Consider the distance of trees, shrubs, grass, firewood, and propane tanks from the building, as proximity can be an issue.

The ‘home ignition zone’ includes the structure and the 200-foot radius around it. This area is sectioned into 3 smaller portions. The smallest zone, closest to the house, also known as zone 1, includes the 30 feet outside of the building. This area should be mowed regularly, free of dead vegetation, and contain fire-resistant material for any outdoor furniture. Additionally, the closest 5 feet to the house should be a “fire-free area”, containing nonflammable, high-moisture plants.

Zone 2 is considered the area 30-100 feet from the house. This area should have spaced-out trees, with 20 feet between individual trees or 30 feet between clusters of trees. Driveways and walkways are used as fuel breaks, and mowing should be used to reduce fuel loads.

Zone 3 includes 100 to 200 feet away from the house. In this area, less spacing is required between trees. Remove any woody debris piles and ensure tree canopies are not touching.

Lastly, infrastructure fire breaks can make or break one’s wildfire protection plan. Using gravel or caliche as a fuel break can be extremely helpful, as well as access roads and 2-track roads, which all have the potential to stop a ground-driven fire. Additionally, these firebreaks can be used to stop a wildfire by providing an area for a prescribed backfire to be lit. Backfires remove fuel loads, which can stop the wildlife when it hits the black due to the lack of fuel.

Landowners can also employ heavy grazing during the dormant season around structures to minimize fuel loads. Alternating between grazing and preemptively burning each season keeps the rangeland productivity high compared to solely grazing. In the case of a wildfire, cattle are often capable of finding a safe area on their own. Make quick openings for livestock by cutting fences if needed, and do not attempt to drive livestock to safety when a wildfire is coming. Be sure not to put yourself in harm’s way.

Wildfires are a persistent threat to rangeland owners, especially in areas with high fuel loads and dry conditions. By understanding the factors that contribute to wildfire risk and implementing strategic structural and land management practices, you can significantly reduce the potential danger to your property and livestock. Proactive prevention and preparedness are essential; safeguarding your land and structures not only protects your own assets but also contributes to the resilience of your entire community. By taking these steps, landowners can be better equipped to withstand, manage, and mitigate the challenges presented by wildfires.

Mesquite Seedling Mastery – New Insights on Limiting Mesquite Recruitment with Fire

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Article written by Hayden Webb
West Texas Rangelands Intern
Graduate Student – Texas A&M University

It is no mystery that honey mesquite is one of the most difficult brush species for West Texas landowners to manage. Its ability to resprout and its deep root system make it one of the most resilient plants on Texas rangelands. Because of these traits, long-term control often requires herbicide treatment.

Prescribed fire is the most cost-effective brush management tool available to landowners (Van Liew et al. 2012), but it often struggles to overcome mesquite’s well-protected bud bank—the source of its ability to resprout. Research has shown that while fire is effective at top-killing mesquite, its ability to achieve true mortality, or root kill, is much lower than desired. In a 2022 Texas A&M study, high-intensity fires top-killed 100% of mesquite trees, but only 29% of those trees failed to resprout (Starns et al. 2022). Although this was the highest mortality rate achieved by fire in recent mesquite studies, researchers had to add extra fuel around the base of each tree to create fire intensities that would be difficult to achieve under natural conditions.

While this study demonstrated that fire can kill mesquite roots even outside drought conditions, these mortality rates still do not compare to those achieved with herbicides such as Sendero or Remedy.

All is not lost for landowners hoping to reduce mesquite recruitment with prescribed fire. A North Texas study published this year by Ansley et al. provides new insight into the vulnerability of mesquite seedlings to fire and identifies the factors that most influence seedling mortality.

Infographic titled "Mesquite Seedling Mastery" explaining how to limit mesquite recruitment with fire.
Fire Temperature Duration
Laboratory studies have long suggested that plant tissue dies when exposed to temperatures of at least 140°F for one minute or longer (Van Wagner, 1973). However, it has remained unclear whether these findings apply to woody resprouting species in field conditions.

Ansley et al. found that to maximize root kill in mesquite seedlings between 0 and 2 years old, temperatures at the soil surface must remain at or above 140°F for at least two minutes. Under these conditions, summer fires achieved mortality rates greater than 84%, regardless of fuel type.

The fact that these mortality rates were only achieved when heat remained at the soil surface for a sufficient amount of time suggests that the tissues responsible for resprouting are still located above ground in very young seedlings. Because soil is an excellent insulator, fire-induced mortality may only be possible until those resprouting tissues move below the soil surface as the plant matures.

Predictors of Seedling Mortality
The strongest predictor of mesquite seedling mortality was flame length, followed by fire temperature duration. As flame lengths increase, the hottest part of the fire moves farther away from the soil surface. As a result, longer flames may actually reduce the likelihood of root kill because less heat is concentrated where it is needed most.

Wind is a major factor that increases flame length, but it also speeds up the movement of the fire front. Landowners hoping to maximize mesquite seedling mortality should recognize that summer burns and headfires may produce taller flames and faster-moving fires. In some cases, the fire may not remain over a seedling long enough to maintain the recommended two-minute heating period at the soil surface.

Importance of Fire Season and Fuel Load
Both fire season and fuel load play important roles in producing the fire behavior needed to kill mesquite seedlings. The highest temperatures and longest heating durations occurred during summer burns, and the greatest mortality rates were also achieved during the summer.

Conditions common during summer burns, including high temperatures, low fuel moisture, stronger winds, and rainfall deficits, help create more intense fires. High fuel loads, especially in tallgrass prairie ecosystems, further increase fire intensity and improve the chances of achieving seedling mortality.

Because the study found lower mortality rates during winter burns and in mixed-grass systems with lower fuel loads, landowners should consider taking advantage of summer burn opportunities whenever possible.

The Big Takeaway
Managing woody resprouting plants remains one of the greatest challenges facing Texas landowners and rangeland managers. Honey mesquite is especially difficult to control because its belowground bud bank allows it to survive drought, disturbance, and even fire.

However, prescribed fire can help limit future mesquite recruitment by killing seedlings between 0 and 2 years of age. To achieve mortality, temperatures at the soil surface must reach at least 140°F and remain there for a minimum of two minutes. Landowners can improve their chances of meeting these conditions by burning during summer windows and allowing fine fuels to accumulate before a prescribed burn.

Citations:

Ansley, R. J. et al. (2026) Effect of Fuel Load, Fire Season, and Fire Temperature Duration on Honey Mesquite Seedling Mortality. Rangeland Ecology & Management 106:24-46

Van Liew, D. et al. (2012) An economic comparison of prescribed extreme fire and alternative methods for managing invasive brush species in Texas: a modeling approach. The Open Agricultural Journal 6.1

Starns, Heath, et al. “Prosopis glandulosa persistence is facilitated by differential protection of buds during low-and high-energy fires.” Journal of Environmental Management 303(2022) 114141

Van Wagner, C. E. (1973) Height of Crown Scorch in Forest Fires.Canadian Journal for Restoration. 3: 373-378.

The Power of Connection: How Social Interactions Affect the Utilization of Prescribed Fires

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Article written by Jacob Court
West Texas Rangelands Intern
Graduate Student – Texas A&M University

Prescribed fire is one of the most effective methods of rangeland management, with benefits encompassing enhancing biodiversity, reducing woody plant encroachment, and even lowering wildfire risk. Despite these benefits, it is not often promoted by federal agencies due to the social stigma that surrounds fire. Many people just see it as a natural disaster and an event that needs to be avoided at all costs. This is not the case, though, because fire is a natural system that has existed in our rangelands long before humans came along. In fact, the reason fires are so large and destructive nowadays is due to the zero-tolerance policy towards fire that has been in place for decades. Due to this avoidance mentality, fires are happening less frequently and then burn with more intensity due to the increase of fuel loads on the ground, ironically caused by the lack of more regular fires. Today, people have strong anti-fire opinions, so Kreuter et al. decided to look into how these opinions affect the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) employees’ recommendations when it comes to prescribed fire management.

[Read more…] about The Power of Connection: How Social Interactions Affect the Utilization of Prescribed Fires

Burn Smarter, Not Just Hotter: Timing Fire for Plant Response in the Edwards Plateau

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Article written by Kathryn O’Daniel
West Texas Rangelands Intern and Senior, Texas A&M University

The hottest fire is not always the best fire for meeting your management goals. In many cases, a fire applied at the right time is more effective than one with the highest intensity. Choosing when to burn is one of the most powerful tools land managers can use to guide rangelands toward a desired plant community.

Before striking a match, take time to evaluate what plants are currently present and what you want the landscape to look like in five or ten years. The timing of a prescribed burn can shift the ecological balance and help promote more productive, diverse, and resilient rangelands.

How Season Affects Fire Behavior
Fire behavior changes across the year due to variations in fuel type and moisture. Burns conducted during the growing season, typically late spring through summer and in some cases early fall, include more live plant material and higher fuel moisture. These conditions often result in variable fire behavior and patchier burns compared to dormant season fires.

Dormant season burns, commonly conducted in late fall and winter, rely primarily on dry, cured grasses. These fires are often more uniform in coverage due to consistent fuel conditions.

Understanding these differences allows managers to better match fire behavior with their objectives.

Managing Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-season grasses dominate much of West Texas rangeland and reach peak productivity during the summer. These grasses are generally well-adapted to fire.

Growing season burns can help favor warm-season native grasses, increase their competitiveness, and reduce accumulated plant litter. When combined with proper grazing management, these burns may also help suppress certain invasive species.

However, outcomes are influenced by factors such as rainfall, grazing pressure, and existing plant composition, so results may vary year to year.

Managing Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses grow earlier in the year and can provide valuable forage when warm-season grasses are dormant. Fire timing plays an important role in managing their abundance.

Burning during the active growth period of cool-season grasses, typically in the spring, can reduce their presence since plants are more susceptible to heat damage. In contrast, burning outside their growing season, such as in the summer, can favor cool-season species by reducing competition from warm-season grasses.

Because cool-season grasses extend the grazing season, managers should consider their goals carefully before altering their abundance.

Influencing Forb Diversity
Forbs are often among the first plants to respond after a prescribed burn. They provide important forage for livestock and wildlife, especially in terms of protein.

Fire timing can influence forb populations. Summer burns often promote greater forb diversity, while earlier-season burns may reduce forb abundance. Including forbs in the plant community can improve overall ecosystem function and wildlife habitat, so their role should be considered in burn planning.

Brush Management Considerations
Prescribed fire is a valuable tool for managing woody plants, but its effectiveness depends on the type of shrub present.

Resprouting species, such as mesquite and huisache, are highly adapted to fire. In these cases, prescribed fire alone is often not enough to achieve significant mortality. Instead, fire is more effective when combined with other management practices, such as mechanical or chemical control, to target seedlings and limit regrowth.

Non-resprouting species, on the other hand, are more susceptible to fire since their buds are located above ground. These plants can experience higher mortality from well-timed burns. Fire applied in the spring or winter can be used to reduce these species while retaining desirable vegetation.

Putting It All Together
Plant communities are shaped by many interacting factors, including weather, precipitation, grazing management, fuel conditions, and soil characteristics. Prescribed fire timing is just one piece of the puzzle, but it is a tool managers can actively control.

Whether your goal is improving forage production, enhancing wildlife habitat, or maintaining healthy rangeland, strategic fire timing can help move the landscape in the desired direction. Well-planned burns allow land managers to influence grasses, forbs, and woody plants simultaneously.

Plan Ahead and Burn with Purpose
Ready to burn smarter? Look beyond the hottest day and consider the season; your land will thank you. Work with local professionals, develop a burn plan, and consider how the timing of fire fits into your long-term management goals. With thoughtful planning, prescribed fire can help transform West Texas rangelands into more productive and resilient ecosystems.

Does Prescribed Fire Ever Cross Your Mind? Join the Prescribed Burn School in Gatesville Next Month!

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For many Texas landowners and managers, prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools available for improving rangeland health, managing brush, supporting wildlife habitat, and reducing fuel loads. Still, knowing when to burn, how to plan, and what it takes to do it safely can feel overwhelming without the right training.

That is exactly where the Prescribed Burn School in Gatesville comes in.

Hosted by Dr. Morgan Treadwell, West Texas Rangelands, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, this comprehensive three-day training will be held Monday, June 15, through Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Gatesville Civic Center in Gatesville, Texas. Designed for landowners, fire professionals, and agency personnel, this course offers a practical learning experience that connects classroom instruction with real-world application.

Whether prescribed fire is already part of your management plan or it is something you have considered but never pursued, this course provides a strong foundation in the principles and practice of prescribed burning in Texas.Prescribed Burn School in Gatesville, Texas, June 15-17, 2026, daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. Hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, this 3-day course provides in-depth training for landowners, fire professionals, and agency personnel seeking certification as a Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager. Registration is open at TX.AG/PBSGATESVILLE

Why Prescribed Fire Still Matters
Across Texas rangelands, prescribed fire remains one of the most valuable tools for restoring and maintaining healthy landscapes. Fire can help reduce woody plant encroachment, improve forage production, recycle nutrients, and create better conditions for native plant communities and wildlife.

Prescribed fire is more than just lighting a match under the right weather conditions. Effective burning requires planning, situational awareness, and an understanding of fire behavior, fuel conditions, smoke management, and post-burn evaluation. Training matters, especially for producers who want to use fire with confidence and responsibility.

What Participants Can Expect
The Gatesville Prescribed Burn School follows the Texas Department of Agriculture’s 24-hour curriculum and meets the training requirement for those pursuing certification as a Certified and Insured Prescribed Burn Manager (CIPBM).

Participants will receive in-depth instruction in areas including fire behavior, weather interpretation, prescribed burn planning, ignition techniques, and post-burn evaluation.

When conditions allow, the course will also include multiple prescribed burns, allowing participants to gain valuable field experience alongside experienced instructors and burn professionals.

That hands-on component is especially important. For producers, there is real value in seeing how planning decisions translate to field conditions and how burn objectives, weather, fuels, and crew coordination come together on the ground.

Who Should Attend?
This training is a great opportunity for a wide range of participants, including:

  • Landowners and land managers interested in using prescribed fire as a management tool
  • Fire department personnel and emergency responders
  • Municipal, county, and agency staff involved in land or resource management
  • Anyone wanting to build a deeper understanding of prescribed fire in Texas ecosystems

For producers specifically, this course offers a chance to better understand how prescribed fire may fit into a broader management strategy that includes grazing, brush control, drought planning, and long-term stewardship.

A Practical Opportunity for Producers
One of the most valuable parts of this training is that it is designed to be practical. This is not simply a classroom discussion about fire ecology. It is an opportunity to learn how prescribed fire is planned and implemented in real-world conditions.

For producers who want to incorporate prescribed fire into their operation, this course can help answer important questions:

  • What makes a burn plan workable?
  • How do weather and fuel conditions affect success?
  • What equipment and personnel are needed?
  • How do you evaluate a burn after it is complete?

These are the kinds of questions that matter when fire becomes part of a rangeland management plan.

Registration and Event Details for the Prescribed Burn School:

Dates: Monday, June 15, 2026 through Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Location: Gatesville Civic Center, 301 Veterans Mem Lp, Gatesville, Texas 76528

Registration: tx.ag/PBSGatesville

Free registration is available for Prescribed Burn Association members, with membership verification required to confirm eligibility.

For additional information, contact David Brooke at David.brooke@ag.tamu.edu.

Building Fire Knowledge That Supports Better Stewardship
At West Texas Rangelands, we know prescribed fire is not just a tool for specialists. It is a land management practice that can play a meaningful role on working ranches and private lands when backed by training, planning, and sound decision-making.

If prescribed fire has ever crossed your mind, this course offers a valuable opportunity to build the knowledge and field skills needed to better understand its role on Texas landscapes.