Study

Effects of prescribed fire on habitat of beaver (Castor canadensis) in Elk Island National Park, Canada

  • Published source details Hood G.A., Bayley S.E. & Olson W. (2007) Effects of prescribed fire on habitat of beaver (Castor canadensis) in Elk Island National Park, Canada. Forest Ecology and Management, 239, 200-209.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Use prescribed burning

Action Link
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
  1. Use prescribed burning

    A before-and-after, site comparison study in 1989–2001 within a mixed forest national park in Alberta, Canada (Hood et al. 2007) found that prescribed burning did not increase occupancy of lodges by beavers Castor canadensis. For lodges subject to prescribed burning once, the occupancy rate in the year after burning (25%) was lower than in the year before burning (41%). Some lodges were burned more than once and the odds of occupancy decreased by 58% for each additional burn. In a 194-km2 national park, occupancy of 734 beaver lodges, located between 1989 and 2001, was monitored by aerial or ground surveys, every 1–3 years. There were 121 prescribed fires (1–1,059 ha in extent) from 1979–2001. All but six (in October) were lit between April and June. Around 49% of the park was not burned in the study period.

    (Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)

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